Research Event: Rehabilitation and Reintegration of People Convicted of a Sexual Offence
The Probation Institute Research Event will hear about research from academics at the University of Derby and from Circles UK across a range of critical issues affecting the rehabilitation in the community of people convicted of a sexual offence.
SPEAKERS
Professor Lynn Saunders (University of Derby)
Learning from the past-looking forward to the future
The talk will provide an overview of the current and historical issues and challenges involved in working with people convicted of a sexual offence, and explore how these challenges might be overcome.
Dr Kirsty Teague (Senior Lecturer, University of Derby)
Fostering growth, building resilience: The role of community and belonging in bolstering rehabilitation and reintegration
The talk will focus on what penal practitioners can do to support people convicted of a sexual offence as they transition from prison back into the community, helping to reduce social isolation and loneliness. It will cover practical issues often encountered, such as disclosing a criminal record, and explore the impact of rehabilitative encounters in the context of living amid hostility.
Emeritus Professor Nadia Wager (Teesside University & Project Leader, Circles South East)
Desistance from sexual offending through social reintegration – the contribution from Circles of Support and Accountability
This talk argues that supporting desistance among people convicted of a sexual offence extends beyond surveillance and restriction towards supporting the process of identity transformation away from an "offender" self. Drawing on three recent systematic reviews (Tuschick et al., 2024–2025), it shows that the principal barriers to reintegration are largely structural and societal, including stigma, housing and employment exclusion, and fragmented support, rather than solely individual. This creates a paradox in which society demands desistance while removing the very tools needed to achieve it. Within this framework, Circles of Support and Accountability exemplify the shift from "control" to "connection", operationalising desistance theory by building the pro-social relationships and social capital that evidence shows significantly reduce recidivism.
To register for this event please email admin@probation-institute.org
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