Cowburn, I. MalcolmLavis, Victoria J.Walker, Tammi2009-04-062009-04-062008-04-16Cowburn M, Lavis V and Walker T (2008) BME sex offenders in prison: the problem of participation in offending behaviour groupwork programmes: a tripartite model of understanding. British Journal of Community Justice. 6(1): 19-34.http://hdl.handle.net/10454/2550YesThis paper addresses the under representation of Black and minority ethnic (BME) sex offenders in the sex offender treatment programme (SOTP) of the prisons of England and Wales. The proportional over representation of BME men in the male sex offender population of the prisons of England and Wales has been noted for at least ten years. Similarly the under representation of BME sex offenders in prison treatment programmes has been a cause for concern during the last decade. This paper presents current demographic data relating to male BME sex offenders in the prisons of England and Wales. The paper draws together a wide range of social and cultural theories to develop a tripartite model for understanding the dynamics underlying the non-participation of BMEen© 2008 Community Justice Portal. Reproduced in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.BlackEthnic MinoritySex offendersOffending Behaviour ProgrammesPrisonsEnglandWalesDemographic dataArticleUnspecified