The relationship between sex offender registry utilization and awareness

Impressions of child advocacy center leaders: How problematic sexual behavior in children and adolescents is perceived by community professionals

BACKGROUND

Consistent with the goals of National Children's Alliance, Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) are optimal for addressing needs related to problematic sexual behavior (PSB) of youth due to their multidisciplinary approach and emphasis on community-level evidence-based interventions (Kelley et al., 2019). To promote child well-being and safety, decisions of the CAC's multidisciplinary team must be based on an accurate understanding of youth with PSB, child sexual development, and best-practice responses. However, misperceptions about youth who have engaged in PSB appear to broadly persist (Hackett, Masson, et al., 2013), leading to obstacles for CACs in addressing PSB.

OBJECTIVE

To better understand and address the training and service needs of CACs across the country, the goal of this study was to assess CAC community professionals' (e.g., MDT members) perceptions of children and adolescents with PSB, as reported by CAC leaders.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Participants were 351 CACs from 47 US states, a representative sample based on regional and community distributions.

METHOD

A designated point-of-contact (e.g., the Director) for each CAC completed an online survey reflecting on their CAC's professional community's perceptions of youth with PSB.

RESULTS

Findings suggested that a number of misperceptions about youth with PSB, particularly adolescents, are commonly reported for CAC professional communities. Prevalent misperceptions surrounded the etiology of PSB, treatment-related needs, and differences between youth with PSB and adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Results can be used to inform policy, practice, training, and resource utilization to address youth with PSB in CACs, with specific recommendations provided to enhance an evidence-based approach.

Input from the frontlines: parole and probation officers' perceptions of policies directed at those convicted of sexual offenses

Sex offender laws were designed to decrease sexual violence. The current mixed methods study examined attitudes and opinions of parole and probation officers who have supervised individuals convicted of sexual offenses (n = 361) regarding sex offender legislation and how these policies can be most effective in preventing recidivism. About half of the officers reported that registration and notification, sexually violent predator and Halloween laws were largely effective in preventing sexual victimization. Conversely, they perceived residence restriction laws and the tier system to be largely ineffective. A consistent theme that emerged from the qualitative responses was a movement away from blanket approaches towards a case-specific approach, tailoring the laws to individuals based upon their needs and risk level.

Sex Offender Management Policies and Evidence-Based Recommendations for Registry Reform

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The goal of this paper is to improve evidence-based sex offender management systems through an understanding of the research findings related to the stated goals and unintended consequences of such laws.

RECENT FINDINGS

Assessment tools using factors derived from research studies can improve the identification of higher-risk sex offenders, so that more intensive or restrictive interventions can be tailored to those who pose the highest threat to community safety. After substantial time offense-free in the community, even higher-risk offenders become less likely to reoffend, suggesting that registration durations can be modified to utilize resources more efficiently. Several strategies for applying the evidence base to inform the utility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of sex offender policies include (1) use of empirically derived risk assessment tools to classify offenders and modify registration requirements accordingly, (2) removal of juveniles from registries; and (3) elimination of residence restrictions.

The Collateral Consequences of Sex Offender Management Policies: Views From Professionals

In this study, the perceptions of community corrections professionals and clinical specialists toward the collateral consequences of current sex offender management policies were explored and contrasted. In addition, potential influencing factors of these perceptions were examined. Results indicate high levels of belief that sex offenders experience a variety of collateral consequences upon reentry; however, community corrections professionals are significantly less likely to believe that sex offenders experience collateral consequences than clinical specialists. Furthermore, few demographic variables were found to significantly influence the perceptions of the sample. Implications for the management of sex offenders are discussed.

Community Protection Policies and Repeat Sexual Offenses in Florida

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of sexual offender management policies on sex crime repeat arrest rates in Florida. Aggregate data for the period 1990 to 2010 were provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The repeat offense rate was defined as the proportion of arrests each year that were committed by individuals with a previous conviction in the same crime category. The average yearly repeat offense rate for sex crimes was 6.5%, which was consistently and significantly lower than rates for other crimes: 8.3% for non-sex assaults, 15.1% for robbery, 29.8% for drug offenses, and 11.6% for DUI. The average annual sexual repeat arrest rate prior to and after the implementation of sexual offender registration laws in 1997 was 4.9% and 7.5%, respectively, indicating a statistically significant increase. The average annual repeat arrest rates for non-sex assaults, robberies, drug crimes, and DUIs also increased after 1997. No significant differences were found when comparing the average annual percent change for sexual re-arrest (+3.47%) with non-sexual assault (+3.93%), robbery (-.73%), drug offenses (+1.59%), and DUI (+1.14). Sex crime repeat arrests in Florida do not appear to show a decline attributable to sex offender management policies implemented since 1997.

Community Experience With Public Sex Offender Registries in the United States: A National Survey

Since the first sex offender community notification laws in the early 1990s, the expansion of online sex offender registries (SORs) in the United States has offered Americans unprecedented access to information about previously convicted sex offenders living in their communities. Despite this, survey data suggest that relatively few citizens use SORs and that even fewer use that information for specific protective purposes. The current study examines the patterns and correlates of SOR usage among a stratified nationwide sample of 1,000 U.S. adults, offering the most extensive national assessment to date of SOR use among the U.S. public. Although 45% of the sample reported that they had accessed an SOR (higher than rates reported in previous studies), the majority had done so only once or twice, most typically out of general curiosity rather than for a specific purpose. Separating these “casual users” from those who had consulted the SOR more frequently, the study revealed significant effects related to gender, age, race, political ideology, and importance of religion. Analyses also found the most frequent users to be significantly more likely to report diminished feelings of safety as a result of viewing SOR information and to engage in protective actions, including the sharing of information with family and neighbors. Policy implications for the design and implementation of public SORs are discussed.

Public Knowledge and Use of Sexual Offender Internet Registries: Results From a Random Digit Dialing Telephone Survey

The present study examines public knowledge and use of a sexual offender Internet registry in New Jersey. A 20-item random digit dial telephone survey of 1,016 New Jersey residents was completed to determine public awareness and use of the New Jersey Sex Offender Internet Registry (NJSOIR). Approximately 51% of respondents reported knowledge of the NJSOIR, while 17% had accessed the site. Of those who accessed the site, 68% took some preventive measure based on the information they obtained. Logistic regression analyses demonstrate that ethnicity, education, and Internet access were associated with residents' knowledge of the NJSOIR, while sex, race, education, being the parent/caregiver of a child below 18 years of age, and access to the Internet were associated with respondents' likelihood to visit the registry website. These results suggest that an intervention that will increase public awareness of sex offender registries and provide specific preventive measures the public can take is needed.

Law-Enforcement Officials' Views of Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification

Little is known about how criminal justice officials perceive the efficacy and scope of sex offender registration and community notification (SORN) procedures. This study examines the attitudes regarding SORN among a sample of law enforcement agency supervisors/managers using a survey methodology and the Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders (CATSO) scale. Results show that law enforcement officials tend to hold harsh views about sex offenders. Additionally, the CATSO appears to be an efficient way of categorising the views of law enforcement officials. When considered relative to other populations, law enforcement officials appear to hold views similar to college students, and in contrast to other criminal justice officials.

Can Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA) work in the United States? Preliminary results from a randomized experiment in Minnesota

In 2008, the Minnesota Department of Corrections implemented Minnesota Circles of Support and Accountability (MnCOSA), a sex offender reentry program based on the Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA) model developed in Canada during the 1990s. Using a randomized experimental design, this study evaluates the effectiveness of MnCOSA by conducting a cost-benefit analysis and comparing recidivism outcomes in the MnCOSA (N = 31) and control groups (N = 31). Despite the small total sample size (N = 62), the results from Cox regression models suggest that MnCOSA significantly reduced three of the five recidivism measures examined. By the end of 2011, none of the MnCOSA offenders had been rearrested for a new sex offense compared with one offender in the control group. Because of less recidivism observed among MnCOSA participants, the results from the cost-benefit analysis show the program has produced an estimated US$363,211 in costs avoided to the state, resulting in a benefit of US$11,716 per participant. For every dollar spent on MnCOSA, the program has generated an estimated benefit of US$1.82 (an 82% return on investment).

Sex Offender Registries

A handful of highly publicized sexual assault cases served as the impetus for the passage of sex offender legislation, culminating in the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (2006), which called for the registration of convicted sex offenders in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The publicly accessible online registries have been the center of sex offender controversy in recent years, yet few researchers have analyzed the content of the registries. This study examined the content of the registries after the deadline for implementation of the Adam Walsh Act (AWA). An analysis of the 51 online registries was conducted to identify prevalent characteristics, search features, listing profile details, and rates of sex offenders. The most common search features included searching by name, zip code, city or town, county, and address. Nearly all registries also provide disclaimers (98%) and warnings (92%). Thirty registries (58.8%) allowed users to plot an offender’s address through a mapping option. Most sites also provided numerous case-specific characteristics including various personal details about sex offenders such as appearance, specific offense information, victim information, and place of employment. Overall, the sites varied greatly from state to state and many offered additional features not required by the AWA. However, as of December 2011 only 15 states had substantially complied with AWA mandates (National Conference of State Legislatures).

The impact of community notification on sex offender reintegration: a quantitative review of the research literature

The purpose of this review was to better understand the impact of community notification, known as "Megan's Law," on sex offenders' reintegration into the community. Eight quantitative studies that examined the social and psychological impact of community notification on adult sex offenders (N = 1,503) were reviewed. The pattern of results across studies showed considerable similarities despite marked variability in the populations examined, survey methods used, and response rates obtained. Sex offenders rarely reported being the target of vigilante attacks. Substantial minorities reported exclusion from residence and job loss as social consequences of being publicly identified as sex offenders in their communities. The majority of offenders reported negative psychological consequences of notification but also identified benefits of knowing that others were monitoring their behavior. More intrusive notification strategies were associated with higher rates of socially destabilizing consequences. Results are discussed in terms of their policy and research implications.