'Better as a Buddhist': an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the reflections on the religious beliefs of Buddhist men serving a prison sentence for a sexual offence

This paper presents a qualitative analysis of the accounts offered by individuals (n=7) convicted of a sexual offence who describe themselves as Buddhists. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews within a custodial environment and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). This paper presents the two superordinate themes that emerged from the data: (i) Better as a Buddhist and (ii) Ebb and Flow. Reflections and analysis from the Buddhist prison chaplain are integrated within the analysis of prisoner-participant data. Implications of the analysis are discussed with reference to interventions that use Buddhist principles, factors that underpin factors that help reduce reoffending and those that fit with the formation of a desistance narrative for religious individuals who have committed sexual offences

The relationship between neuroticism and intelligence scores among a Libyan student sample

The study examined the impact of Neuroticism on an individual's intelligence among a Libyan student sample. Seventy-five students aged between 15 to 25 years, completed the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale (WBIS the Arabic version) and the Neurotic Behaviour Scale (NBS) to provide measures of Intelligence and Neuroticism scores, respectively. The results showed little difference in either sex or age with regard to differences in neuroticism scores. Furthermore, the findings revealed that there were no significant differences between the three different levels of neuroticism scores and the individuals' performance on the WBIS intelligence scales. However, the scaled scores of the High-neuroticism group on the WBIS subtests were more scatter than other groups and were clinically significant on Arithmetic, Information and Digit Symbol. The results indicated that there were significant negative correlations between neuroticism and Arithmetic, Information and the Picture Completion scale. The role of gender appeared through the differences between males and females in the correlation coefficients between neuroticism and the WBIS scores, not just in the size but also in the direction of the correlation

Stumbling into sexual crime: the passive perpetrator in accounts by male internet sex offenders.

Public reactions to internet child offending remain ambivalent in that, while there is vocal condemnation of contact child sex offending, there is less indignation about internet child abuse. This is potentially due to a lack of recognition of this type of offence as sexual offending per se. This ambiguity is reflected by internet sex offenders themselves in their verbalizations of their offending. This article presents a qualitative analysis of the accounts offered by seven individuals convicted of internet-based sexual offences involving the downloading and viewing of images of children. In particular, this article presents an analysis of the explanations of offenders for the commencement of internet activity and the progression to more illicit online materials. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using discursive methods, paying close attention to language use and function. The analysis documented the practices that internet child abusers employed in order to manage their identities, distance themselves from the label of sex offender, and/or reduce their personal agency and accountability. Implications of this analysis are discussed with reference to the current minimization of the downloading of sexually explicit images of children as a sexual crime per se by the public and offenders alike and the risk assessment and treatment of individuals convicted of these offences

UK-based police officers' perceptions of, and role in investigating, cyber-harassment as a crime

Within the UK, cyber-harassment is a criminal act and perpetrators can be prosecuted if the crime is reported to the police. Cyber-harassment has a detrimental impact and causes psychological distress to victims but due to its online nature, complaints made may not be taken seriously and the impact may not be fully acknowledged. Police officers' perceptions of this crime and its victims are crucial as this will impact on how the crime is investigated and whether perpetrators are prosecuted. The present exploratory study aimed to gain insight into how cyber-harassment is investigated and identify issues and barriers. Eight police officers based in the United Kingdom were recruited using a snowball technique to participate in semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis and three themes were identified: online accessibility, threat, and the unhelpful victim. Each theme is discussed in relation to theory, policy and legislation within the UK

"I kind of find that out by accident": probation staff experiences of pharmacological treatment for sexual preoccupation and hypersexuality

Purpose - This paper aimed to explore the views and experiences of probation staff working with individuals convicted of a sexual offence who have been prescribed medication to manage sexual arousal (MMSA). Design/methodology - Semi-structured interviews were utilised with a sample of probation staff (Offender Supervisors and Managers, n=12), who supervise individuals convicted of a sexual offence, either in prison, or post-release in the community. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings - Two main themes emerged: (1) Barriers for probation staff and (2) Suspicious but hopeful. Theme one encapsulates factors that prevent probation staff from engaging with MMSA; theme two highlighted the samples' uncertainty and mistrust of the use of medication as a potential tool for risk management and scepticism about individuals' motivations, particularly in the community. Research limitations – The main limitation of this study was the differing levels of knowledge the sample had about MMSA and their subsequent ability to discuss MMSA other than in a theoretical sense. Practical implications - Practical implications include the need for further training for probation staff, improved collaboration between departments and ongoing support for staff to support the success of the MMSA intervention. Originality/value – This study offers a novel perspective on MMSA - that of the probation staff supervising prisoners taking MMSA. This has not been explored before, and the findings and associated implications are of importance for the treatment and care of those convicted of sexual offences

Impacts of alternative grassland management regimes on the population ecology of grassland birds

We investigated the impacts of rangeland management practices on the diversity, density, and nest survival of grassland songbirds and on the demography, habitat selection, and population viability of Greater Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus cupido). Our study site was located in eastcentral Kansas and included portions of Chase, Greenwood, Lyon, and Morris Counties. We had access to ~1,100 km2 of private and public lands. Over 95% of the land was privately owned (~1040 km2), and the remaining ~5% was the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Our final project report is based on data collected during a 3-year period from Feb. 2011 through Feb. 2014. Our study focused on grassland songbirds and Greater Prairie-Chickens as indicators of ecosystem response. Our analyses are based on direct comparisons between monitoring efforts in pastures managed with patch-burn grazing (PBG) and pastures managed with traditional intensive early stocking and annual burning (IESB).Citation: Sandercock, B.K., V.L. Winder, A.E. Erickson, and L.B. McNew. 2014. Impacts of alternative grassland management regimes on the population ecology of grassland birds. Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Final Project Report for Award No. KDWP-W-67-R. (technical report)

"I kind of find that out by accident": probation staff experiences of pharmacological treatment for sexual preoccupation and hypersexuality

Purpose - This paper aimed to explore the views and experiences of probation staff working with individuals convicted of a sexual offence who have been prescribed medication to manage sexual arousal (MMSA). Design/methodology - Semi-structured interviews were utilised with a sample of probation staff (Offender Supervisors and Managers, n=12), who supervise individuals convicted of a sexual offence, either in prison, or post-release in the community. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings - Two main themes emerged: (1) Barriers for probation staff and (2) Suspicious but hopeful. Theme one encapsulates factors that prevent probation staff from engaging with MMSA; theme two highlighted the samples' uncertainty and mistrust of the use of medication as a potential tool for risk management and scepticism about individuals' motivations, particularly in the community. Research limitations – The main limitation of this study was the differing levels of knowledge the sample had about MMSA and their subsequent ability to discuss MMSA other than in a theoretical sense. Practical implications - Practical implications include the need for further training for probation staff, improved collaboration between departments and ongoing support for staff to support the success of the MMSA intervention. Originality/value – This study offers a novel perspective on MMSA - that of the probation staff supervising prisoners taking MMSA. This has not been explored before, and the findings and associated implications are of importance for the treatment and care of those convicted of sexual offences

Much more medicine for the oldest old: trends in UK electronic clinical records

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.BACKGROUND: the oldest old (85+) pose complex medical challenges. Both underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis are claimed in this group. OBJECTIVE: to estimate diagnosis, prescribing and hospital admission prevalence from 2003/4 to 2011/12, to monitor trends in medicalisation. DESIGN AND SETTING: observational study of Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) electronic medical records from general practice populations (eligible; n = 27,109) with oversampling of the oldest old. METHODS: we identified 18 common diseases and five geriatric syndromes (dizziness, incontinence, skin ulcers, falls and fractures) from Read codes. We counted medications prescribed ≥1 time in all quarters of studied years. RESULTS: there were major increases in recorded prevalence of most conditions in the 85+ group, especially chronic kidney disease (stages 3-5: prevalence <1% rising to 36.4%). The proportions of the 85+ group with ≥3 conditions rose from 32.2 to 55.1% (27.1 to 35.1% in the 65-84 year group). Geriatric syndrome trends were less marked. In the 85+ age group the proportion receiving no chronically prescribed medications fell from 29.6 to 13.6%, while the proportion on ≥3 rose from 44.6 to 66.2%. The proportion of 85+ year olds with ≥1 hospital admissions per year rose from 27.6 to 35.4%. CONCLUSIONS: there has been a dramatic increase in the medicalisation of the oldest old, evident in increased diagnosis (likely partly due to better record keeping) but also increased prescribing and hospitalisation. Diagnostic trends especially for chronic kidney disease may raise concerns about overdiagnosis. These findings provide new urgency to questions about the appropriateness of multiple diagnostic labelling.This study was supported by Age UK (registered charity number 1128267). The team hold a licence to analyse CPRD data. A.B. was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Public Health Research. J.A.H.M. is funded by a NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship Award. W.E.H. was supported by the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) for the South West Peninsula. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, Age UK or the Department of Health. Financial sponsors played no role in the design, execution, analysis and interpretation of data or writing of the stud