Reviews : Gender, Sex Offenders and Probation Practice Lena Dominelli Novata Press, 1991; £5.95 pbk
| Date | 01 September 1991 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455059103800313 |
| Author | Alison Doust |
| Published date | 01 September 1991 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
which I, and any student of probation,
work
with sex offenders from a gender
will want to refer repeatedly.
focus, some of her assumptions are
questionable. I am not convinced that
Peter J Simpson
there is one prevailing stereotype of sex
ACPO, Lancashire
offenders nor that researchers or prac-
tictioners perceive them largely as
’weak individuals’ who simply lack
Gender, Sex Offenders and
social skills. This is not borne out by
Probation Practice
the range of group work programmes
developed in recent years within the
Lena Dominelli
Service. She is similarly over-critical in
Novata Press, 1991; £5.95 pbk
my
view of male researchers and prac-
tioners whom
she continually takes to
This book is based on a study carried
task for being collusive, for being male
out in Northern England and Western
and therefore sharing a common
Canada during 1989-90 to consider the
socialization process with male sex of-
issue of gender and its implications for
fenders. This seems to me
unnecessari-
probation officers working with sex of-
ly alienating of male workers, although
fenders. As well as reviewing the
it is clearly vital that male officers
available literature, Dominelli inter-
acknowledge this if their work with
viewed 25 probation officers working
sex offenders is to be effective and
non-
in generic teams, two specialist officers
collusive.
and their senior and a psychologist.
When
dealing with practice issues
The book is written from an overtly
in the final sections of the book
feminist stance and clearly lays the
DomineRi is on much
stronger ground.
groundwork in the early chapters for
Here she highlights the Probation Ser-
subsequent analysis of current research
vice’s failure to provide adequate train-
and practice.
ing, supervision or support for staff
Dominelli sets out to show that
working with sex offenders and the
the stereotype of sex offenders as weak
particular problems women officers
individuals is invalid and also explores
face, tending to be...
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