Prison Standards that Facilitate the Sex Offender Treatment and Rehabilitation to Reduce Recidivism

Abstract

This qualitative study is aimed to examine the perspectives of prison standards facilitating the treatment and rehabilitation of sex offenders. Research participants were one hundred and four people in total, including the executives from the Department of Corrections, experts, academics, and prison officers. In-dept interviews and focus groups were conducted for data collection. Thematic qualitative analysis using Colaizzi’s method was employed to analyze the data. The research findings revealed three main themes. The first theme was the classification standard for sex offenders.  The research participants stated that prison officers were the key to effective assessment and classification of sex offenders. Major problems were a lack of qualified staff who specialized in sexual offense classification, insufficient budget, limited space for the operations and legal issues related to the sex offense. The second theme involved the treatment and rehabilitation standards for sex offenders. Participants indicated that effective rehabilitation programs were the assistance for mindset change, increase in self-esteem, promotion of novel learning, and encouragement of family participation. Major problems on the second theme included a lack of specific treatment and rehabilitation programs for sex offenders. The third theme was the standard of social reintegration for sex offenders. The participants mentioned that pre-release rehabilitation programs for sexual offenders emphasized vocational training and family relationship enhancement. Employment, cooperation among community networks, and funding for career development after release were provided. The major problems included a lack of policies or regulations for effective community reintegration. From this study, improvement of prison standards to facilitate positive changes in sex offenders can be achieved. Moreover, safe communities from sexual crimes and prevention of recidivism can be further encouraged.