The experiences of perpetrators of filicide participating in treatment within a prison therapeutic community

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the treatment experiences of adult male perpetrators of filicide within prison therapeutic communities (TCs).

Design/methodology/approach

Participants took part in semi-structured interviews in order to capture their treatment experiences. The data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings

Five superordinate themes (therapeutic process; acceptance; insight; relationships; and barriers) and ten subordinate themes were identified. All themes were pertinent to understanding the participants’ experiences of TC treatment. The discussion provides reflections about the findings, contrasts them to psychological literature, along with suggestions for clinical practice and future research.

Originality/value

This research addressed a dearth of published literature within the area of male filicide and available treatment interventions.

Citation

Jacobs, L. and Shuker, R. (2019), "The experiences of perpetrators of filicide participating in treatment within a prison therapeutic community", Therapeutic Communities: The International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, Vol. 40 No. 1, pp. 66-76. https://doi.org/10.1108/TC-08-2018-0018