TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex Offenders in Prison
T2 - Are They Socially Isolated?
AU - van den Berg, Chantal
AU - Beijersbergen, Karin
AU - Nieuwbeerta, Paul
AU - Dirkzwager, Anja
PY - 2018/10/1
Y1 - 2018/10/1
N2 - Empirical literature has revealed that social isolation can affect the rehabilitation of sex offenders after serving their sentence. This process of social isolation can already start during incarceration due to strained relationships with fellow prisoners and correctional staff. The current study examined to what extent sex offenders felt socially isolated during incarceration, using survey and registered conviction data on a large sample of male adult prisoners from the Prison Project. It was found that support from and relationships with correctional officers and fellow prisoners were perceived less positive by sex offenders than nonsex offenders. No evidence was found for higher levels of loneliness in sex offenders compared with prisoners convicted for a nonsexual offense. In sum, although the effects were small, sex offenders reported more social isolation during imprisonment compared with nonsex offenders.
AB - Empirical literature has revealed that social isolation can affect the rehabilitation of sex offenders after serving their sentence. This process of social isolation can already start during incarceration due to strained relationships with fellow prisoners and correctional staff. The current study examined to what extent sex offenders felt socially isolated during incarceration, using survey and registered conviction data on a large sample of male adult prisoners from the Prison Project. It was found that support from and relationships with correctional officers and fellow prisoners were perceived less positive by sex offenders than nonsex offenders. No evidence was found for higher levels of loneliness in sex offenders compared with prisoners convicted for a nonsexual offense. In sum, although the effects were small, sex offenders reported more social isolation during imprisonment compared with nonsex offenders.
KW - loneliness
KW - prison
KW - sex offenders
KW - social isolation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051839788&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85051839788&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1079063217700884
DO - 10.1177/1079063217700884
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85051839788
VL - 30
SP - 828
EP - 845
JO - Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment
JF - Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment
SN - 1079-0632
IS - 7
ER -