This study examines the unique experience of participants who during their reintegration back into the community, following a conviction for sexual offending, re-engaged with religious and spiritual communities. To explore meaning Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was adopted. Four in-depth interviews of men convicted for sexual crimes were undertaken and analysed. Findings indicate that through religious affiliation participants were: exposed to new prosocial networks; provided opportunities to seek forgiveness; felt a sense of belonging and affiliation; and were psychologically comforted. However, the study also found that the process of identity transition from ‘offender’ to ‘non-offender’ was not seamless or straightforward for those with an innate sexual deviancy towards children, caution is therefore advised.
BurchfieldKBMingusW (2008) Not in my neighborhood: Assessing registered sex offenders’ experiences with local social capital and social control. Criminal Justice and Behavior35(3): 356–374.
4.
CraigLABrowneKDBeechAR (2008) Assessing Risk in Sex Offenders: A Practitioner’s Guide. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons.
5.
ExlineJJWorthingtonJELHillP. (2003) Forgiveness and justice: A research agenda for social and personality psychology. Personality and Social Psychology Review7(4): 337–348.
6.
FarmerMMcAlindenA-MMarunaS (2015) Understanding desistance from sexual offending: A thematic review of research findings. Probation Journal62(4): 320–335.
7.
GiordanoPCLongmoreMASchroederRD. (2008) A life-course perspective on spirituality and desistance from crime. Criminology46(1): 99–132.
8.
KewleySBeechARHarkinsL (2015) Examining the role of faith community groups with sexual offenders: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior25: 142–149.
9.
KewleySLarkinMHarkinsL. (in press) The meaning made of religious and spiritual affiliation for those incarcerated for sexual offending.
10.
KrauseNEllisonCG (2003) Forgiveness by God, forgiveness of others, and psychological well-being in late life. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion42(1): 77–93.
11.
LarkinMWattsSCliftonE (2006) Giving voice and making sense in Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Qualitative Research in Psychology3(2): 102–120.
12.
LevensonJSCotterLP (2005) The effect of Megan’s Law on sex offender reintegration. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice21(1): 49–66.
13.
LevensonJSD’AmoraDA (2007) Social policies designed to prevent sexual violence: The emperor’s new clothes?Criminal Justice Policy Review18(2): 168–199.
14.
LevensonJSTewksburyR (2009) Collateral damage: Family members of registered sex offenders. American Journal of Criminal Justice34(1): 54–68.
15.
LevensonJSBrannonYNFortneyT. (2007a) Public perceptions about sex offenders and community protection policies. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy7(1): 137–161.
16.
LevensonJD’AmoraDHernA (2007b) Megan’s Law and its impact on community re-entry for sex offenders. Behavioral Sciences and the Law25(4): 587–602.
17.
McAdamsDP (2001) The psychology of life stories. Review of General Psychology5(2): 100–122.
18.
McCartanK (2010) Media constructions and reactions to, paedophilia in modern society. In: HarrisonK (ed.) Managing High-Risk Sex Offenders in the Community. Devon: Willan, 249–268.
19.
McCulloughMEWitvlietCV (2002) The psychology of forgiveness. In: SnyderCRLopezSJ (eds) Handbook of Positive Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press, 446–458.
20.
MarunaS (2001) Making Good: How Ex-Offenders Reform and Reclaim Their Lives. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
21.
MarunaS (2011) Reentry as a rite of passage. Punishment and Society13(1): 3–28.
22.
MarunaS (2012) Elements of successful desistance signaling. Criminology and Public Policy11(1): 73–86.
23.
OsbornMSmithJA (1998) The personal experience of chronic benign lower back pain: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. British Journal of Health Psychology3(1): 65–83.
24.
PiqueroA (2004) Somewhere between persistence and desistance. In: MarunaSImmarigeonR (eds) After Crime and Punishment: Pathways to Offender Reintegration. Devon: Willan, 102–128.
25.
RobbersMLP (2009) Lifers on the outside: Sex offenders and disintegrative shaming. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology53(1): 5–28.
26.
RussellGSeymourFLambieI (2013) Community reintegration of sex offenders of children in New Zealand. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology57(1): 55–70.
27.
SampsonRJLaubJH (2005) A life-course view of the development of crime. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science602(1): 12–45.
28.
SilvermanJWilsonDC (2002) Innocence Betrayed: Paedophilia, the Media and Society. Cambridge: Blackwell Publishing.
29.
SmithJOsborneM (2008) Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. In: SmithJA (ed.) Qualitative Psychology: A Practical Guide to Research Methods. London: SAGE, 53–79.
TeddlieCYuF (2007) Mixed methods sampling a typology with examples. Journal of Mixed Methods Research1(1): 77–100.
33.
WardTMarshallB (2007) Narrative identity and offender rehabilitation. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology51(3): 279–297.
34.
WardTStewartCA (2003) The treatment of sex offenders: Risk management and good lives. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice34(4): 353–360.
35.
WardTMannREGannonTA (2007) The good lives model of offender rehabilitation: Clinical implications. Aggression and Violent Behavior12(1): 87–107.
36.
WeaverBMcNeillF (2015) Lifelines: Desistance, social relations, and reciprocity. Criminal Justice and Behavior42(1): 95–107.
