Exploring criminogenic need through victim apology letters: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

The concept of criminogenic need is widely used, both to understand offending behaviour and in the design of treatment programmes. However, it is recognised that criminogenic need may differ dependent upon the nature of the offending, the cultural context and the specific forensic population. In order to develop programmes that successfully effect change in offenders, it is important to identify the factors that may be implicated in offending and to target these factors. This research explores the criminogenic needs of a group of men attending a community‐based introductory sex offender programme, through their victim apology letters, using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The data suggest that these men do not understand themselves or their behaviour in terms of criminogenic need, for the most part, and the implications for this are considered.

Citation

Duff, S. (2010), "Exploring criminogenic need through victim apology letters: an interpretative phenomenological analysis", Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 33-43. https://doi.org/10.5042/jacpr.2010.0140