Sexual Offending, Language and Probation Practice

The label ‘sex(ual) offender’, is commonly used to describe those with a sexual offence conviction. Yet, this labelling does much to discourage the rehabilitative efforts of the individual with the conviction, and those supporting their rehabilitation and reintegration journey. Increasingly, there is acknowledgement in academia, policy and practice that language matters. Within probation, for example, there has been a move to using more inclusive terminology such as ‘person on probation’ (PoP). This has replaced the often ‘offender’ laden policy documentation underpinning probation practice and is a seismic change in the right direction. However, parallel to this positive change, discourse surrounding individuals who have a conviction for a sexual crime remains, overall, unchanged. This differential approach contributes to ‘othering’ such individuals, and has stigmatising and ostracising qualities which can have detrimental long-term consequences and subsequently impede probation practice. This paper (i) makes the case for inclusive, and person-centred language for all, and (ii) addresses the implications of terminology usage for people working in probation.