Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Dissertation - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Advisor

Jim Hibel

Abstract

Currently in the United States there are 747,408 registered sex offenders (RSOs) (NCMEC, 2015) with 265,000 under the supervision of a corrections agency. Many of these men and women have intimate partners who play a role in their everyday life. Past studies have focused on the lived experiences of the members of the offenders’ support system in general, including the negative effects they experience through their association with the offender. This study was designed to fill the gap in the research that does not focus specifically on the intimate partners. Utilizing an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) I offered an in-depth examination of this topic. Based on interviews with 4 partners of RSOs four major themes emerged related to their experiences: Intimate Partners and tier relationship with; Law Enforcement, the Outside World, Themselves, and Their Intimate Partners. My sample came from individuals who are currently in a relationship with a registered sex offender in Broward County, Florida. The findings are discussed regarding possible applications for treatment providers, the legal system, and the correctional system to better serve this population.

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