Do Digital Sex Offenders Differ: A Study on the Profiling of Digital Sex Offenders under Sex Offender Registration System

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-156
Author(s):  
Na Hyun Lee ◽  
Youn Oh Cho
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Sex Offender Registration ◽  
Registration System

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.

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.

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.

Punishing Sex: Sex Offenders and the Missing Punitive Turn in Sexuality Studies

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (03) ◽  
pp. 573-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor Hoppe
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
State Legislatures ◽  
The United States ◽  
Black Communities ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Sex Offender Registration ◽  
Same Sex Couples ◽  
Recent Trends

At precisely the same time that gay and lesbian activists were securing marriage rights for same-sex couples nationwide, courts and “tough on crime” state legislatures were devising new ways to regulate sex. Despite recent estimates that over 750,000 Americans are registered sex offenders, few sexuality scholars have examined the growth of punitive policies regulating sex offenders. In this article, I draw on a unique set of data on the population of sex offenders in the United States to analyze: (1) whether recent trends in sex offender registration mirror those of corrections more generally, and (2) whether these policies disproportionally impact racial minorities. Findings reveal that sex offender registries grew dramatically between 2005 and 2013; that this growth is out of step with concurrent trends in corrections; and that black communities are disproportionately impacted. I conclude by considering whether these data reveal a new mode of “governing through crime” specifically targeting sex. It might as well be admitted that sex is a disgrace. Michael Warner (1999) There is a big secret about sex: most people don't like it. Leo Bersani (1987)

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 Offenders

2019 ◽  
pp. 203-212
Author(s):  
Li-Wen G. Lee ◽  
Heather Ellis Cucolo ◽  
Jeremy Colley
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Sex Offender Registration ◽  
Legal Challenges

Chapter 28 includes cases related to the diagnosis and treatment of sexual offenders in the criminal justice system. Forensic practitioners may treat these individuals as part of their clinical work or may evaluate them to determine suitability for civil commitment upon release from prison or appropriateness for return to the community. The cases in this chapter are Specht v. Patterson, Allen v. Illinois, In re Young and Cunningham, Kansas v. Hendricks, McCune v. Lile, Kansas v. Crane and U.S. v. Comstock. The new cases (Does #1-5 v. Snyder and Millard v. Rankin)add a focus on legal challenges associated with sex offender registration.

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