Collateral Consequences of Juvenile Sex Offender Registration and Notification

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 770-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Harris ◽  
Scott M. Walfield ◽  
Ryan T. Shields ◽  
Elizabeth J. Letourneau
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Sex Offender Registration ◽  
Collateral Consequences ◽  
Treatment Providers

Among many in the research, policy, and practice communities, the application of sex offender registration and notification (SORN) to juveniles who sexually offend (JSO) has raised ongoing concerns regarding the potential collateral impacts on youths’ social, mental health, and academic adjustment. To date, however, no published research has systematically examined these types of collateral consequences of juvenile SORN. Based on a survey of a national sample of treatment providers in the United States, this study investigates the perceived impact of registration and notification on JSO across five key domains: mental health, harassment and unfair treatment, school problems, living instability, and risk of reoffending. Results indicate that treatment providers overwhelmingly perceive negative consequences associated with registration with an incremental effect of notification indicating even greater concern across all five domains. Providers’ demographics, treatment modalities, and client profile did not influence their perceptions of the collateral consequences suggesting that provider concern about the potential harm of SORN applied to juveniles is robust. Policy implications are discussed.

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.

StayWell at Home: A Text Messaging Intervention to Counteract Depression and Anxiety during COVID-19 Social Distancing (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Aguilera ◽  
Rosa Hernandez-Ramos ◽  
Alein Yaritza Haro ◽  
Claire Elizabeth Boone ◽  
Tiffany Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
The United States ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
At Home

BACKGROUND Social distancing and stay-at-home orders are critical interventions to slow down person-to-person transmission of COVID-19. While these societal changes help to contain the pandemic, they also have unintended negative consequences, including anxiety and depression. We developed StayWell, a daily skills-based SMS text messaging program, to mitigate COVID-19 related depression and anxiety symptoms among people who speak English and Spanish in the United States. OBJECTIVE This paper describes the changes in the anxiety and depression levels of participants in the StayWell program after 60 days of exposure to skills-based SMS text messages. METHODS We used self-administered, empirically supported web-based questionnaires to assess the demographic and clinical characteristics of StayWell participants. Anxiety and depression were measured using the 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) scale and the 8-item Patient Health Quesstionanire-8 (PHQ-8) scale at baseline and 60-day timepoints. We used paired t-tests to detect the change in PHQ-8 and GAD-2 scores from baseline to follow-up measured 60 days later. RESULTS The analytic sample includes 193 participants who completed both the baseline and 60-day exit questionnaires. At the 60-day time point, there were statistically significant reductions in both PHQ-8 and GAD-2 scores from baseline. We found an average reduction of -1.72 (95% CI: -2.35, -1.09) in PHQ-8 scores and -0.48 (95% CI: -0.71, -0.25) in GAD-2 scores. This translated to an 18.5% and 17.2% reduction in mean PHQ-8 scores and GAD-2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS StayWell is a low-intensity, cost-effective, and accessible population-level mental health intervention. Participation in StayWell focused on COVID-19 mental health coping skills and was related to improved depression and anxiety symptoms. In addition to improvements in outcomes, we found high levels of engagement during the 60-day intervention period. Text messaging interventions could serve as an important public health tool for disseminating strategies to manage mental health. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04473599 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.2196/23592

scholarly journals Filial expectation among Chinese immigrants in the United States of America: a cohort comparison

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 2266-2286
Author(s):  
Man Guo ◽  
Elizabeth Byram ◽  
Xinqi Dong
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Family Relations ◽  
The United States ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Older Immigrants ◽  
Chinese Adult

AbstractRelying on two unique data-sets on Chinese older immigrants (N = 3,157) and younger immigrants with ageing parents (N = 469) in Chicago, this study compared the level of filial expectation among the two groups and examined the predictors and mental health implications of having high filial expectation among each group. Results of t-tests, logistic regression and negative binominal analyses showed that, regardless of socio-demographic variables, acculturation, physical health and family relations, Chinese adult children had higher filial expectations on themselves than older immigrants’ filial expectation on the younger generation. Chinese older immigrants who had less education, lower levels of acculturation, poorer health and closer relationships with children reported higher filial expectation. In the cohort of younger immigrants, high filial expectation was associated with lower income, better health and closer relations with their parents. In addition, having high filial expectation was associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety among the older immigrants, but not among the younger cohort. The results indicated that, whereas Chinese older immigrants seemed to adapt their filial expectation in the new society, the younger cohort still strongly adhere to this traditional family norm. Maintaining strong filial expectation might be a protective factor for older immigrants’ mental health. Practice and policy implications of these findings are discussed in the paper.

Collateral Consequences and Effectiveness of Sex Offender Registration and Notification: Law Enforcement Perspectives

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 1080-1106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle A. Cubellis ◽  
Scott M. Walfield ◽  
Andrew J. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Public Safety ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Offender Treatment ◽  
Treatment Provider ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Sex Offender Registration ◽  
Collateral Consequences ◽  
Collateral Effects

A growing body of research has examined the collateral effects of sex offender registration and notification (SORN), particularly those related to offenders’ social and economic reintegration into society. Although studies have examined public, offender, treatment provider, and other criminal justice perspectives on SORN’s collateral impacts, few have elicited the views of law enforcement (LE) professionals who have contact with registered offenders. This study presents results from a mixed method study examining LE perspectives on collateral consequences and effectiveness of SORN. Results indicate that, although overall LE concern regarding collateral impacts is limited, those who are most engaged in SORN-related duties are significantly more likely to indicate such concern, and also more likely to believe that SORN was an effective public safety tool. Importantly, respondents in states with larger registries expressed greater concern over collateral consequences, and less belief in SORN’s public safety efficacy. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Paying for the Past

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian V. Roberts ◽  
Richard S. Frase
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Repeat Offenders ◽  
Offense Severity ◽  
Prior Record ◽  
Three Strikes ◽  
Sentencing Policy ◽  
Prison Populations ◽  
Severity Of Punishment

Virtually all modern sentencing systems consider the offender’s prior record to be an important determinant of the form and severity of punishment, often carrying more weight than the crime being sentenced. Repeat offenders “pay for their past,” even though they have already been punished for their prior crimes. And the majority of sentenced offenders have at least one prior conviction. This topic thus lies at the heart of the sentencing process; every well-designed sentencing scheme needs to have a carefully conceived approach to the use of prior convictions. But the vast literature on sentencing policy, law, and practice has generally overlooked this issue. Moreover, the apparent justifications for prior record enhancement—the repeat offender’s assumed greater culpability and risk of re-offending—are uncertain, and have rarely been subjected to critical appraisal. Nor has sufficient attention been paid to the substantial negative consequences of such enhancements, which: increase the size and expense of prison populations; impose penalties disproportionate to offense severity; fill prisons with nonviolent and aging, lower-risk offenders; increase racial disproportionality in prison populations; and undermine offenders’ efforts to reintegrate into society. This book focuses on prior record enhancements under sentencing guidelines systems in the United States because sentencing rules operate more transparently in those systems. But the policy implications are much broader. Similar enhancements are informally applied, with substantial impacts, when judges sentence without guidelines. And most jurisdictions have statutes (three-strikes and career-offender laws; higher penalties for second and subsequent violations) that impose much more severe penalties on repeat offenders.

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