Sanctions for Sex Offenders: Fear and Public Policy

Abstract

This study investigated public attitudes regarding sex offender sanctions through telephone surveys (n ¼ 703). The greatest support was for residency and work restrictions. There was less support for publication of names in a newspaper, curfews, life in prison, and castration. Support for nonsevere sanctions correlated with socioeconomic status, being a parent of a school or preschool aged child, and a fear of sex offenders. Support for severe punishments for sex offenders positively correlated with fear and being a parent of a preschool-aged child. Education and income were negatively correlated with both severe and non-severe sanctions for offenders.

Support for Current Sex Offender Management Policies: A National Survey of the Perceptions of Professionals

“…Changing public opinion toward the current policies is crucial as public outcry over the perceived threat of victimization from sex offenders has been regarded as the catalyst for the passage of policies such as SORN and residence restrictions (Meloy et al, 2007;Zgoba, 2004). Despite empirical evidence showing that these policies do not have an effect on sex offender recidivism rates (Letourneau et al, 2010;), along with the results of the present study showing a lack of professional support for the policies, the public still greatly supports the policies and holds the belief that the policies do reduce the likelihood of sexual victimization (Comartin et al, 2009;Schiavone & Jeglic, 2009). Thus, it is necessary to better educate the public on the realities and limitations of current sex offender management policies as a public urging for better policies to manage this offender population may be what is necessary to shape sex offender management policies again.…”

“…In regards to education, higher levels of educational attainment are associated with lower levels of support amongst the public for juvenile sex offender registration (Stevenson, Smith, Sekely, & Farnum, 2013) and sex offender management policies in general (Comartin et al, 2009). This same negative relationship between educational attainment and support for sex offender management policies is also found among parole board members (Tewksbury & Mustaine, 2012), but not among other professionals Tewksbury et al, 2011;.…”

“…For instance, Tewksbury and Mustaine (2012) report that parental status played a significant role in the perceptions of parole board members when examining the effectiveness of community notification in reducing sexual victimization, however, other studies of professionals have not found parental status to be influential in shaping perceptions Malesky & Keim, 2001;Mustaine et al, 2015;. Parental status appears to have a greater influence on the attitudes of the public, as several studies show being a parent is associated with greater support for sex offender management policies (Caputo & Brodsky, 2004;Comartin et al, 2009;Mancini, Shields, Mears, & Beaver, 2010).…”

“…Generally, research indicates the public is supportive of sex offender management policies (Comartin, Kernsmith, & Kernsmith, 2009;Levenson, Brannon, Fortney, & Baker, 2007;Schiavone & Jeglic, 2009), but mixed support exists for the same policies among professionals interacting or supervising sex offenders (Levenson, Fortney, & Baker, 2010;Malesky & Keim, 2001;Mustaine, Tewksbury, & Payne, 2015;Tewksbury & Mustaine, 2012Tewksbury, Mustaine, & Payne, 2011). Due to the mixed support among professionals, the current study seeks to advance the knowledge among this population in two ways.…”

Public Perceptions of GPS Monitoring for Convicted Sex Offenders: Opinions on Effectiveness of Electronic Monitoring to Reduce Sexual Recidivism

“…More than 80% approves of sex offender registries and community notification laws, and similar percentages report feeling safer because of such policies (Anderson & Sample, 2008;Comartin, Kernsmith, & Kernsmith, 2009;Levenson et al, 2007). A substantial majority also express approval for other reforms, such as residence restrictions .…”