House, home, and hope: exploring the accommodation needs and experiences of people with sexual offence convictions

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Lomas, JR ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3697-2763, 2021. House, home, and hope: exploring the accommodation needs and experiences of people with sexual offence convictions. PhD, Nottingham Trent University.

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Abstract

Accommodation is a basic human need. For people with convictions, accessing accommodation is key to reducing reoffending. A wealth of research investigates the topic of accommodation for people with general convictions, yet less is known about accommodation for people with sexual convictions specifically. People with sexual convictions require distinct considerations, due to the unique reintegration challenges they face. Utilising a mixed methods approach, this thesis explored the accommodation needs and experiences of people with sexual offence convictions.

The first two empirical studies within this thesis were qualitative, interview explorations. Study 1 explored the views of relevant professionals, and established themes that captured issues surrounding the problematic housing landscape generally, as well as identifying challenges more specific to people with sexual convictions. The findings emphasised the difficulties and tensions that participants experienced within their professional roles. Study 1 situated this thesis within the context of wider political and societal considerations.

Study 2 interviewed people with sexual convictions who lived in the community. The findings reiterated the challenges highlighted by professionals. Beyond this, participant narratives reflected the feelings and emotions people attached to their dwellings, emphasising what they felt they needed from their accommodation. These needs were immaterial in nature, termed, psychosocial home needs. The analysis draws links to desistance, capturing how living environments may enhance or inhibit people’s efforts to remain offence free.

The rationale for Study 3 stemmed from the findings of Study 2. Psychometric tests were used to explore the relationship between psychosocial home needs and desistance-based outcomes, such as hope and agency. This study identified how feelings of home may instil hope in people with sexual convictions, offering a foundation for further research.

This thesis makes original contributions to knowledge. It goes beyond the necessity of considering accommodation as a structural dwelling, to highlight the importance of the feelings attached to such dwellings. This thesis captures the significance of home for people with sexual convictions, offering considerations for future research and policy.

Item Type:	Thesis
Creators:	Lomas, J.R.
Date:	June 2021
Rights:	This work is the intellectual property of the author. You may copy up to 5% of this work for private study, or personal, non-commercial research. Any re-use of the information contained within this document should be fully referenced, quoting the author, title, university, degree level and pagination. Queries or requests for any other use, or if a more substantial copy is required, should be directed in the owner(s) of the Intellectual Property Rights.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	08 Jul 2021 08:34
Last Modified:	08 Jul 2021 08:43
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/43366