Sexual Crime and the Experience of Imprisonment

This book focuses on the experience of imprisonment from the perspectives of individuals with sexual convictions. It stresses the importance of a positive and rehabilitative prison climate. The volume begins with an exploration of the theoretical underpinnings of a rehabilitative prison climate and discusses some of the practical ways of creating rehabilitative cultures in prisons housing people convicted of sexual offences. Four empirical chapters focus on the experience of stigmatisation, prison officers’ attitudes towards prisoners’ offences, negotiating the ‘sex offender’ identity in prisons and the varied experience of ‘being’ in prisons exclusively for individuals with sexual convictions. Throughout the authors discuss the specific benefits of peer-support, such as the chance to earn self-forgiveness, construct adaptive identities and consequently move away from harmful labels. The book also spotlights a chapter on the experience of imprisonment written by a former service-user, this unique position offers an insightful account of an individual’s journey through the prison system.

Nicholas Blagden is an Associate Professor in Forensic Psychology at Nottingham Trent University, UK. He is a Chartered Psychologist having worked and researched within the criminal justice system and HM Prison Service for many years and is a co-founder and trustee of the Safer Living Foundation charity.

Belinda Winder is a Professor in Forensic Psychology, a Chartered Psychologist and Head of the Sexual Offences, Crime and Misconduct Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University, UK. She is a co-founder and trustee of the Safer Living Foundation charity.

Rebecca Lievesley is a lecturer in Psychology at Nottingham Trent University and has conducted research within the criminal justice system for many years. 

Kerensa Hocken is a registered forensic psychologist at HMPPS Whatton, UK. She has oversight for the assessment and treatment of people in prison for sexual offending in the Midlands region.

Phil Banyard is Head of Psychology at Nottingham Trent University, UK. He was honoured with the British Psychological Society’s Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology Education.

Helen Elliott is Lecturer in Counselling at Bishop Grosseteste University, UK. She has a background in forensic psychology and is a trainee integrative psychotherapist.