About the project
For the past two decades, the proportion of prisoners with sexual offense convictions has increased in Norway. The causes are complex, but stricter penalties for these types of crimes are part of the explanation. Despite the fact that sex offense recidivism is statistically rare, the consequences are severe when someone sexually (re)offends. For the past few years, we have therefore seen an increased focus on rehabilitation, treatment and reentry planning, with the aim of preventing recidivism.
So far, research on sexual recidivism has mainly been conducted within a quantitative research paradigm. In-depth qualitative research is scarce in this field and highly needed in order to understand the uniquely individual aspects of sex crime recidivism. The "Understanding Recidivism: Narratives of Individuals Re-Imprisoned for Sexual Offenses" project therefore qualitatively investigates the recidivism process, as subjectively perceived, by interviewing individuals with first-hand recidivism experience.
Objectives
The main aim is to generate new knowledge about the recidivism process of individuals convicted of sexual offenses. The study widely explores the unique insight these individuals possess regarding what went on prior to their recidivism, which mechanisms they believe contributed to it, and what could, from their perspectives, have led to a different outcome. This knowledge will be of societal importance because it is central to the development of preventive measures. Hence, such research is also a central piece in the puzzle of how to end sexual abuse.
Method
Data consists of qualitative semi-structured interviews with imprisoned individuals who have experienced sexual recidivism. Individuals serving ordinary prison sentences or preventive detention sentences are recruited by correctional staff in prisons across Norway, including high-security prisons, low-security prisons, and half-way houses. The interviews are digitally recorded.
The study broadly investigates the participants’ life stories, prison experiences, and treatment and follow-up experiences. The interview guide includes questions from Dan P. McAdams’ Life Story Interview, as well as more specific questions about the participants’ criminal careers. In addition, Sandbukt investigates how the participants pictured life after release while incarcerated, what their thoughts were about the future and possible desistance, how their lives turned out after release, and what challenges they might have faced.
Project period
The PhD project runs for four years, starting 1 January 2021.
Financing
The project is financed by The Centre for Research and Education in Security, Prison and Forensic Psychiatry (SIFER), Oslo University Hospital.
