Abstract
Practitioners and those seeking answers about what makes a sex offender and with it what leads to their rehabilitation are continually seeking answers to enable them to work successfully with this group. Ray Wyre who was referred to as a pioneer in the treatment of sex offenders refused to clarify this at a conference I attended on the basis that this would frustrate any ‘treatment’ regime. This book seems to meander down the same route and in chapter 3 it offers this quote, ‘… at the end of the day, we still do not know anything about why sex offenders abuse and sexually harm others’.
It starts with a brief history of sex and challenges the reader to consider the way sexual activity and how this should be approached. Through this prism, it views the history of sex and poses questions about patriarchal sexual identity and how these impact all concerned with the way sex is viewed personally socially and psychologically. Including how the fear of sexual violence is used to control women. There is also discussion about the drivers behind sexual attraction and who would benefit from theories to manage these. From psychoanalysis to questions about gender and biology shapes our understanding and approach to all things sexual. Seemingly highlighting that sorting out one's own sexual identity and compass is as important as setting off on a journey in the practical application of how to work with sex offenders.
It is not one of those books that is a page-turner or one that I suggest is read in one go but has useful offerings for the practitioner. How far this informs the experienced and perhaps weary professional may depend on how the reader takes the brief history of sex and introduction to sex and sexuality.
In evaluating treatment one of the concepts referred to how victim empathy was established, viewed and then (mis)applied. There was a hint that culture can cloud or even obstruct good practice. Indicating the need to move from fitting the individual into a pre-disposed assessment tool. It poses the question about the organisational culture of (the) ‘way of doing things around here’ leading to a systematic approach devoid of theory. Accepting as it does the latter ‘about the cause and causality of sexual offending are problematic’.
There are useful definitions around the typology of offenders and their drivers and behind it all a reference to the history of the management of sex offenders has evolved from theory and established practice while being buffeted by the political agenda of the time.
There is an interesting chapter on risk including probability and raises questions of practice in a risk-averse society. Something, given the debate on SFOs, that is a useful reminder of how to evaluate risk in a more holistic manner than merely relying on tools. However, others may see this in a different light. Including examining bias when making defensible decisions. The example of a social worker seeking to establish the risk to his children where none was apparent before he was discovered to have downloaded sexual images of children and the family was pleading for his return is a useful exercise around the use of risk assessment tools.
In chapter 6, it usefully analyses these and poses realistic questions about their application. Pointing out that the training experience and an understanding of dynamics is as important as relying on static data. Something when the combination of ARMS into Oasys for newly qualified staff was set to one side.
There is enough in the approaches and debates in chapter 8 to underpin those comfortable with the idea of existing practice providing the reader takes account of some of the critical analysis of programmes and with it an understanding of the theories. Including balancing the idea of what works to nothing does.
The book works on background factors to an offender's experience including the impact of abuse and other trauma that may be usefully used when working with sex offenders. I believe it acknowledges gaps such as understanding why those who are sexually abused do not go on to offend themselves.
In the reflective professional it recognises that ‘the process of personal change is not easy to articulate’ understood and is ‘difficult to accomplish’ indicating that a person in denial can be worked with but it requires a different approach.
This is not a book that deserves to be read in one sitting. Rather it is one to research, reflect on and then apply in bite-size options to practice as the reader redefines those they work with.