A life sentence really?

This report explores the transition from prison for those with a conviction for a sexual offence, a group that faces and poses considerable challenges in the community after their release. Based on interviews with ex-prisoners, staff and volunteers at a specialist hostel for this group and representatives from local statutory agencies, the report considers three resettlement issues - housing, employment and community reintegration - and explores the dilemmas that arise for professionals involved in the lives of ex-prisoners with a conviction for a sexual offence.

In particular, the report:

• Explores the transition from prison for ex-prisoners convicted of sexual offences, the context in which this transition takes place and the challenges to this group's reintegration to society in the longer term.
• Reflects on the nature of support a housing support charity provided to those with a conviction for a sexual offence in the context of information about registered sex offenders' lives and the current policy and practice context governing this work.

The research was commissioned by a housing support charity and was funded by the Man Group plc Charitable Trust and the Oak Foundation.