What Works and What Doesn’t? Responsivity from the Perspective of Incarcerated Individuals with a History of Sexual Recidivism

The risk-need-responsivity (RNR) principles of correctional intervention provide guidelines for preventing future offenses, including sexual offenses. Although recidivism rates for sexual offending are generally low, some individuals do reoffend after release from prison. These individuals, often referred to as "sexual recidivists," typically pose a statistically higher recidivism risk and often have complex criminogenic needs. However, despite their extensive experience with the correctional system, little is known about what they believe makes therapeutic interventions motivating, engaging, and effective. The current study qualitatively examined the lived responsivity experiences of 23 incarcerated men in Norway who have recidivated sexually, focusing on their preferences and beliefs about therapeutic interventions. The findings revealed that valuable interventions are characterized by what I summarize as <i>predictability</i> and <i>entirety</i>, delivered by <i>professional facilitators.</i> Overall, the stigma of sexual offending, along with these men's repeated failures to desist, can create responsivity challenges, indicating the need for tailored efforts to support their desistance processes.