Professionals’ understanding of government strategies for the management of child sexual abusers

Abstract

This article discusses contemporary professional understandings of the UK Government's attitudes to and policies around the management of child sexual abusers. This study is based upon empirical qualitative research with a range of professionals' working in or around the area of child sexual abuse (practitioners, academics and members of the media) (n ¼ 28). The research used semi-structured interviews which were interpreted through qualitative (thematic) content analysis. Results indicate that the professionals sampled believe that the government misperceives child sexual abuse, focusing on risk reduction and public protection rather than treatment and reintegration. The participants also argued that although there are currently some good policies and intra-agency relationships around child sexual abuse in the UK, these could be built upon. The majority of the participants were against the public disclosure of sex offender information, believing that it is not a realistic approach in reducing the sexual abuse of children and therefore it should not be implemented in the UK. These findings suggest that current and future policy on child sexual abuse should be grounded, realistic and not be populist or punitive in nature.

From a Lack of Engagement and Mistrust to Partnership? Public Attitudes to the Disclosure of Sex Offender Information

“…The participants felt that they were being punished by the State for voicing their concerns about child protection and for highlighting any potential offending that may be taking place in their communities. In applying for the scheme, they felt that they would be doing the community and the police a favour, but they felt that the State saw them as a potential risk (McCartan, 2012a). This reflected the previous two themes, as well as the idea that the State does not trust the community to appropriately respond to sex offenders, and that the people best suited to handle sex offenders are professionals (McCartan, 2012a).…”

“…(Republican community, Northern Ireland) Participants, from Wales and Northern Ireland, seemed to have a more realistic understanding of sexual offending than previously thought (Fedoroff & Moran, 1997;Greer, 2002;Kleban & Jeglic, 2012;McCartan, 2004McCartan, , 2010Silverman & Wilson, 2002), but a poorer understanding of the role of the State in the management of sexual offenders. Participants were critical of the State's engagement with the public around sexual offending; feeling that the State was dismissive of the public, perceiving them as disengaged and uneducated (McCartan, 2011(McCartan, , 2012a, whereas they felt that they were reasonably educated and could do more to help. The participants felt that sexual offending, especially against children, was an issue that directly affected them and that they should be involved its resolution.…”

“…This public mistrust in the state to manage offenders is only heightened in respect of sexual and/or interpersonal crimes (Brown, 2009). Sex offenders, especially child sexual abusers, are the most ostracised offending population in modern society (Kemshall, Kelly, & Wilkinson, 2012;Kleban & Jeglic, 2012;McCartan, 2004McCartan, , 2010McCartan, , 2012a, which means that they present a significant challenge to the Criminal Justice System in regard to their prosecution, sentencing, punishment and treatment, as well as reintegration (Keenan, 2012;Kleban & Jeglic, 2012;McCartan, 2012aMcCartan, , 2012b. Child sexual abuse is a headline story in the UK and Ireland (Keenan, 2012;McCartan, 2010).…”

“…Child sexual abuse is a headline story in the UK and Ireland (Keenan, 2012;McCartan, 2010). This means that government representatives (civil servants, policy makers and practitioners), politicians, media outlets and the public are all involved in the social construction of public protection and offender management strategies surrounding sexual abuse (McCartan, 2010(McCartan, , 2012a.…”

“…The UK has moved through a series of high-profile child sexual abuse policies and legalisation in recent years (Kemshall et al, 2012;McCartan, 2012a), often in a reactionary and punitive manner (Greer, 2002;McCartan, 2012a). This includes, but is not limited to, the development of the Sex Offenders Register, expansion of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), introduction of Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) and establishment of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP; ceop.police.uk).…”