Home is where the start is: qualitatively exploring the role of accommodation in desistance, for people with sexual convictions living in the U.K.

Attaining accommodation upon prison release is a key reintegration need. It is recognised by academics, policy makers, and practitioners, as an important risk factor to consider. This consideration, however, largely focuses on the importance of accommodation in terms of attaining a structural dwelling. Furthermore, many investigations do not consider the unique experiences of people with sexual convictions, who arguably require distinct considerations due to added risk management and increased stigma. This research explored the holistic accommodation experiences of men with sexual offences, now living within the community. Interviews were conducted with 15 men who had all served a prison sentence for a sexual offence. Participants discussed what they needed from their accommodation, emphasising desires for a sense of ownership, autonomy, control, safety, and socialisation. These needs were immaterial, reflecting psychosocial and affective ties to accommodation, capturing the importance of home. By considering these components of living spaces, theoretical comparisons are drawn between factors contributing to home and factors contributing to desistance. Accommodation is not merely important as a physical building necessary for risk reduction, but also as a place for individuals to ascertain feelings of home, facilitating an individual’s ability to desist, and lead a positive, offence-free, life.