Canadians’ Attitudes Toward Community Reintegration of Those with a Mental Health Disorder Who Have Committed a Sexual Offense

Compared to other criminal offenses, individuals convicted of a sexual offense experience higher levels of stigmatization, with the public often expressing feelings of fear and disgust. Many individuals who serve time for a sexual offense will reintegrate back into society amongst community members who often believe that sex crimes are on the rise, recidivism rates are high, and that individuals who commit sexual offenses are more dangerous than those who commit other offenses. Little research has explored how the presence of a mental health disorder impacts public attitudes toward reintegration. The current study uses thematic analysis with reflexive elements to explore attitudes toward individuals with a mental health disorder who have committed a sexual offense. Participants ( N = 262) were randomly assigned a vignette depicting an individual who has either schizophrenia or depression and is reintegrating into their neighborhood after committing a sexual offense. Findings suggest that while many participants support reintegration and rehabilitation, attitudes varied when considering the mental health disorder; some participants attributed offending behavior to schizophrenia, while others—particularly in the depression condition—suggested mental illness is not associated with sexual offending. Implications for mental health providers and future research directions are discussed.