The Significance of an Australian Community Maintenance Program for Men Who Have Sexually Offended–Participant Perspectives

Abstract

Although it seems community maintenance programs (CMPs) can play an important role in the desistance journey for those who have committed a sexual offense and there is increased recognition of the various factors that can impact behavior change, there remains a paucity of research that considers the lived experience of those who have participated in CMPs. The primary aim of this study was to solicit views from a group of individuals who had participated in a CMP post-release to develop an understanding of CMPs in terms of its significance in the transition from prison to community reintegration. Thirteen men who participated in an Australian CMP and did not reoffend and thirteen men who participated and went on to reoffend sexually were interviewed about their perceptions and experiences of the CMP. The results for the two groups are outlined as well as implications for practice and future research.