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Project

Tackling Sexual Abuse and Preventing Further Victims

Unit(s) of assessment: Social Work and Social Policy

Research theme: Safety and Security of Citizens and Society

School: School of Social Sciences

Overview

Understanding what we can do to rehabilitate offenders and prevent further victims

Sexual crime is one of the most damaging things that can happen to someone. We need to understand how to prevent sexual abuse and discover new ways to rehabilitate offenders and prevent them harming anyone again.

We set up the Sexual Offending, Crime and Misconduct Research Unit to combat sexual abuse. We have contributed to changes in the criminal justice system and various sex offender treatment programmes.

Addressing the Challenge

Our impact, from new treatment pathways to critical evaluations

We use both quantitative and qualitative research methods to understand human behaviour. We are committed to applying our research to practical situations for the benefit of society.

Our work has a far-reaching impact. It has already been recognised in a number of awards:

  • Robin Corbett Award for Prisoner Rehabilitation (2015)
  • The Guardian University Award for social and community impact (2016)
  • Butler Trust Certificate for work in prisoner rehabilitation (2016)

People

Professor Belinda Winder and Dr Nicholas Blagden lead the group of researchers and PhD students.

To make sure our work can benefit as many people as possible, we collaborate with organisations across the world:

  • The National Health Service (NHS)
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service
  • Safer Living Foundation
  • Circles UK
  • The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
    to Children (NSPCC)
  • HMP Whatton, Stafford, Ryehill, Grendon
  • Ottawa Hospital (Canada)
  • CJS (New Zealand)
  • Accra University (Ghana)
  • Correctional Services Australia