Developing Readiness for Redress of the Perpetrators of Domestic Violence in the Course of the Social Rehabilitation Programme “Post-Sentence Mediation”

Abstract

The presented article is of a research nature and undertakes the topic of developing readiness for redress of the persons serving the penalty of deprivation of liberty for committing an offence specified in Article 207 of the Polish Criminal Code. The need to address such an issue stems from the quest for effective social rehabilitation interactions for different groups of perpetrators of the offences, including the abuse of a loved one. The aim of author’s own research was to determine to what extent it is possible to develop the readiness for redress of the perpetrators of domestic violence in the course of the social rehabilitation programme “Post-sentence mediation”. The research was conducted on the premises of one of the penal institutions in Poland. The obtained quantitative research results indicate that no statistically significant changes were found in the participants of the programme in terms of the increased readiness for redress, a sense of responsibility or emotional and cognitive empathy. Nonetheless, a decrease in the average scores concerning the ability to take other people’s perspectives was reported. At the same time, the qualitative research results show that the respondents are ready to take corrective measures towards the aggrieved persons. This means that it is not possible to unequivocally conclude whether it is possible to develop readiness for redress of the perpetrators of domestic violence serving a penalty of deprivation of liberty. Effective social rehabilitation interactions should be sought and carried out in this group, and they should be aimed at shaping a sense of responsibility, which is not only linked to participation in post-sentence mediation, but first of all, to the purpose of serving a penalty of deprivation of liberty.