Ashamed and Alone

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 440-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle J. S. Bailey ◽  
Jennifer L. Klein
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Informal Social Control ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Sex Offender Registration ◽  
Community Awareness ◽  
Registered Sex Offenders

Originally intended to decrease sexual victimization by increasing community awareness of convicted sex offenders, sex offender registration and notification laws have been shown to produce numerous unintended consequences for both registrants and their family members (FMs). In many cases, these unintended consequences may actually increase sexual reoffending risk by reducing offenders’ informal social control and inhibiting successful postconviction reintegration. The current study examines two such consequences, shame and social isolation, using a sample of 109 registered sex offenders and 116 sex offender FMs ( N = 225). Although prior research has documented the existence of shame and social isolation within both populations, to date, there have been no systematic attempts to examine variation between groups. We found that the degree of social isolation and shame does significantly differ between registered sex offenders and their FMs, with registered sex offenders reporting higher levels of both social isolation and shame compared to FMs at the bivariate level. Using ordinary least squares regression analysis, we determined that attitudinal variables (disrespect and unfair sanctions) were the most salient predictors of participants’ perceived intensity of social isolation and shame.

Sex offender registration and notification laws: thoughts from registered sex offenders in three states

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kendra Bowen ◽  
Erika Frenzel ◽  
Jason D. Spraitz
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Multivariate Regression ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Sex Offender Registration ◽  
Collateral Consequences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Registered Sex Offenders ◽  
Self Worth

Purpose – In the USA, sex offender policy research has focussed on demographic characteristics of registrants, recidivism rates of registrants, accuracy and completeness of listed information, and the collateral consequences experienced by registrants. This growing body of research demonstrates the need to explore offender perceptions of sex offender registration and notification (SORN) laws. The purpose of this paper is to assess whether registration related variables influenced sex offenders’ opinions about the registry, compliance with the registry, self-worth, and deterrence perceptions. Design/methodology/approach – This paper utilized a sample of 286 male registered sex offenders (RSO) in Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. Four multivariate regression models were run to examine registration related variables impact on sex offender opinions of the registry, registry compliance, feelings of self-worth, and perceptions of deterrence. Findings – The multivariate regression results suggest registration related variables have a significant impact on RSO opinion of the registry, compliance with the registry, and opinions of self. Specifically, the number of collateral consequences that one experienced, police contacts that RSOs had, and being recognized as a sex offender were significantly related to the dependent variables in the regression models. Originality/value – This study adds to the body of research that indicates sex offenders experience a myriad of consequences that are outside the scope of the registered sex offender laws. Policy implications and societal consequences of these findings are discussed, as well as a future research agenda.

Sex Offender Registration: Implications and Difficulties for Ireland

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Marie McAlinden
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Sex Offender Registration ◽  
Socially Constructed ◽  
Justice Process ◽  
Criminal Justice Process ◽  
The Media

This paper explores the implications and difficulties of a system of sex offender registration for the two jurisdictions of Ireland. From the orthodox perspective, registration appears justified. Sexual offending has increase and this is used by the media to generate a ‘moral panic’. However, in terms of Blumer's (1971) developmental perspective, sexual offenders in the community have been socially constructed in Ireland, as a problem requiring specific action. This perspective most adequately explains the formulation of legislation. Arguments expounded in favour of registration include the supposedly high recidivism among sex offenders, the inadequacy of supervision provisions and the resulting need to ‘track’ the offender for public protection. Yet a plethora of obstacles which were not considered at the time the legislation was being formulated, such as cost and inadequate policing resources, may impede its effectiveness in aiding law enforcement and reduce it to symbolic significance only. Given these difficulties, I argue that registration is not an appropriate response to the problem of released sexual offenders in Ireland. Rather, from the social constructionist perspective, I suggest that it is better to ‘treat’ the sex offender through less formal and stringent means in the community, away from the criminal justice process.

A geospatial analysis between the sale prices of single-family properties and the presence of registered sex offenders in Jefferson County, Kentucky

Urban Studies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 944-958
Author(s):  
John C Navarro ◽  
Matt Ruther
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Population Characteristics ◽  
Jefferson County ◽  
Block Group ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Sale Price ◽  
Registered Sex Offenders ◽  
Neighbourhood Characteristics

This study explores whether a relationship exists between sale prices and the presence of registered sex offenders in Jefferson County, Kentucky after accounting for observed and unobserved neighbourhood characteristics in accompaniment with property characteristics. The sale prices of single-family properties sold in 2015 were estimated as a function of the characteristics of the property, the housing and population characteristics of the neighbourhood, block group fixed effects and two separate measures of sex offender presence: a) the distance of the nearest registered sex offender to sold single-family properties; and b) the density of registered sex offenders within a half mile distance to sold single-family properties. Registered sex offender distance and density are associated with sale price when controlling for property characteristics and observed neighbourhood characteristics of the property, but these relationships cease to exist when unobserved neighbourhood characteristics are accounted for in the model.

scholarly journals CHANGES IN SOCIAL SUPPORT AND THE INFLUENCE OF DRIVING CESSATION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S753-S754
Author(s):  
Brittany M King
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Driving Cessation ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Emotional Social Support

Abstract Driving cessation has been shown to be a potentially isolating transition in life, with important implications for mental health, social isolation, and social support. Older adults who live alone are vulnerable to social isolation in the context of driving cessation. Although some research has examined the association between driving cessation and certain kinds of social engagement activities, no research has specifically examined changes in social support, particularly among older adults most vulnerable to social isolation – those who live alone . The present study addresses this gap, using data drawn from the 2006-2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine how social support changes in the context of driving cessation among older adults who live alone (N=412). This study specifically focuses on instrumental and emotional social support, and how different sources of the support (children, friends, and other family) are influenced by loss of driving. I use a series of ordinary least squares regression (OLS) to examine four-year changes in various forms of social support among those who live alone, comparing those who lose the ability to drive relative to their continuously driving counterparts. Preliminary results indicate that driving cessation is associated with decline in perceived instrumental support of friends (-0.984, p<01) for older adults who live alone. However, these effects did not extend to children or other family members. These results suggest that loss of driving may perpetuate vulnerabilities facing individuals who live alone by leading to lower levels of perceived support from non-family members.

Must the Show Go On? The (In)Ability of Counterevidence to Change Attitudes Toward Crime Control Theater Policies

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dylan Campbell ◽  
Anna Newheiser
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Crime Control ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Sex Offender Registration ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
White Collar Offenders

Objectives: Crime control theater refers to intuitively appealing laws that appear to address crime while lacking any evidence that they actually do so (e.g., sex offender registration and residence restriction laws, which do not reduce recidivism). Despite their ineffectiveness, public support for such laws is high. Hypotheses: We predicted that making people aware of these laws’ failure to reduce crime would lower support for them.Method: Participants (recruited from Mechanical Turk; Study 1: N=298, mean age=35.60, 47.7% self-identified as women and 75.8% as White; Study 2: N=147, mean age=35.03, 40.1% self-identified as women and 85.0% as White; Study 3: N=552, mean age=35.86, 42.9% self-identified as women and 76.4% as White) read about sex offender registration and residence restriction policies and rated their support for these laws, confidence in their opinions about them, and perceptions of their efficacy before and after reading counterevidence highlighting these laws’ failure to reduce sex crimes. Results: Although exposure to counterevidence somewhat lowered support (average within-subjects d=-0.69), general attitudes remained positive even at the post-counterevidence phase (average d=0.46 against the scale midpoint). This pattern held when manipulating the criminal population being targeted (sex offenders vs. white-collar offenders; Study 1), when tailoring counterevidence to people’s self-stated justifications for supporting these laws (Studies 2-3), and despite favorable ratings of the counterevidence’s strength and credibility. Conclusion: Support for crime control theater policies persists despite explicit knowledge that they do not reduce crime, highlighting the need for alternative methods of dissuading people from their support for these ineffective laws.

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