Navigating moral dimensions and lateral power – The experiences of men with sexual convictions and histories of sexual abuse serving sentences in a therapeutic community

This article examines the moral world of therapeutic penal communities through lens experiences men with sexual convictions and histories victimisation. Drawing on concepts lateral power stigma, we discuss how Therapeutic Communities (TCs), which are intensely social communities, operate within three dimensions: institutional set norms, con code, broader sociocultural norms that stigmatise offending. Specifically, focus this is these shape manner in used, navigated resisted TCs. We explore TC processes used as tools to enact over offences, dimensions create a messy environment TC. Importantly, residents navigate morally complex dual identity offender victim. also note messiness, conflicts between dimensions, raise challenges for vertical exercised. Finally, point out neoliberal individualism inherent today's dimension further shapes offences experience community