Citation

Willis GM, Grace RC. Sex. Abuse 2008; 20(2): 218-240.

Affiliation

University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. gwenda.willis@pg.canterbury.ac.nz

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1079063208318005

PMID

18490483

Abstract

Research on the causal factors underlying sex offender recidivism has not considered the success or failure of the reintegration process by which the offender rejoins the community after prison. The authors developed a coding protocol to measure the quality and comprehensiveness of reintegration planning for sex offenders. The protocol was retrospectively applied to groups of recidivists and nonrecidivists who were matched on static risk level and follow-up time. The protocol demonstrated adequate reliability. Compared to nonrecidivists, recidivists had significantly lower scores relating to accommodation, employment, and the Good Lives Model secondary goods, as well as lower total reintegration plan scores. ANCOVAs showed that when IQ and level of sexual deviance were controlled for, accommodation (a place to live) was significantly related to sexual recidivism and the Good Lives Model-secondary goods was significantly related to any recidivism. These results suggest that poor reintegration planning may be a risk factor for recidivism.

Language: en