@article{ref1,
title="Restoring identity: the use of religion as a mechanism to transition between an identity of sexual offending to a non-offending identity",
journal="Criminology and criminal justice",
year="2017",
author="Kewley, Stephanie and Larkin, Michael and Harkins, Leigh and Beech, Anthony R.",
volume="17",
number="1",
pages="79-96",
abstract="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. <br><br>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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1748-8958",
doi="10.1177/1748895816654530",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1748895816654530"
}