Examining the role of faith community groups with sexual offenders: A systematic review

Abstract

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Restoring identity: The use of religion as a mechanism to transition between an identity of sexual offending to a non-offending identity

“…There are few studies that explore the process of reintegration for those convicted of sexual offending (Farmer, McAlinden & Mauna, 2015) and in particular the role of noncriminal justice agencies in supporting this process (Kewley et al, 2015). While this study looked to examine the experiences of participants from within a religious context, there are of course many other non-secular communities that might provide the same support and opportunity to the factors known to promote desistance.…”

“…First, the experience of the desistance process for those convicted for sexual offending are rarely examined. Likewise, little is known of how a religious context out in the community might help or hinder the process for this group (Kewley, Beech, & Harkins, 2015). Second, intimacy deficits, feelings of loneliness, social isolation and fear, are not only psychologically harmful to the individual, they may also have the potential to contribute to further sexual offending (Craig, Browne, & Beech, 2008).…”

“Because you’ve got faith it doesn’t mean that you’ve got wings on your back”: a qualitative analysis of the accounts of Christian prisoners serving time for a sexual offence

“…The extant literature predominantly comprises studies of prevalence, or are focused on catholic priests and abuse (Langevin, Curnoe & Bain, 2000;Francis, & Turner, 1995;Nolan, 2001;Plante, 2003), or on professionals (including priests) who sexually abuse others (Sullivan & Beech, 2002). A promising stream of research has been published by Kewley and colleagues (Kewley, Larkin, Harkins & Beech, 2017;Kewley, Beech & Harkins, 2015) which has contributed to our understanding of the experiences of religious individuals who have committed sexual offences as they seek to re-engage with faith communities following release from prison. This research sets out to explore the role of religiosity in the lives of lay Christian individuals who are currently serving a prison sentence for sexual crime.…”

‘Better as a Buddhist’: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Reflections on the Religious Beliefs of Buddhist Men Serving a Prison Sentence for a Sexual Offence

“…There has been a plethora of research examining the putative impact of religion on desistance from offending, seeking to explain how religion may inhibit an individual from continuing to commit crime (Hallett and McCoy 2015;Salas-Wright et al 2016;Eshuys and Smallbone 2006;Kewley et al (2015Kewley et al ( , 2016). As a mainstream religion in Western society, Christianity is typically the religion that is the focus for this type of research.…”