The experiences of ID sex offenders who have attended aSOTP groups
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the understandings and experiences of sex offenders with intellectual disabilities who have attended the adapted Sex Offender Treatment Programme.
IRAS ID
170948
Contact name
Chris Patterson
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 7 days
Research summary
The treatment of sex offenders with intellectual disabilities (ID) is controversial and challenging. The main form of treatment is currently the group-based adapted Sex Offender Treatment Programme (aSOTP). This treatment was initially developed for people without ID detained in prison, but later adapted for individuals with intellectual disabilities. While a small body of research, characterised by poor methodology, has attempted to establish whether the aSOTP is effective, there has been no attempt to explore how participants experience it. This study aims to address this gap in our knowledge.
Ten consenting male adult's with ID and sexual offending histories who have attended aSOTP groups will be recruited and interviewed by the investigator. They will be asked questions about: how they came to understand their involvement in this treatment; whether the group content was adapted sufficiently for them to understand it fully; what it was like to discuss/hear others talk about their sexual offences; and which aspects of the group were most/least helpful. Due to the scarcity of aSOTP groups, participants will be recruited from community NHS sites across England. This study will use qualitative methodology, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). This will involve interviewing participants for approximately one hour, asking participants questions off an interview schedule (please find attached). All interviews will be recorded using audio equipment. This will be an encrypted device issued to the Chief Investigator by Bangor University (North Wales Clinical Psychology Programme). Audio recordings will be transcribed and subsequently analysed to identify whether there are any themes. The audio recording device and all written information will be transported in a locked briefcase, and kept in a locked cupboard in a locked office that only the investigators have access to.
REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
18/WA/0342
Date of REC Opinion
12 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion