Studies

There’s a an interesting new study published in the International Review of Victimology that takes a closer look at an assumption that has shaped sex-offender policy for decades: that public registries exist because victims and survivors want them. The study, performed by Kelly Richards of Queensland University of Technology in Australia came to a surprising conclusion. The participants’ views were

At sentencing, most people convicted of a sexual offense are ordered to participate in therapy as a condition of release. In many jurisdictions, the therapist is not chosen by the individual, nor by any careful assessment of therapeutic compatibility. Instead, treatment providers are often selected through government contracts, with probation offices referring participants to whichever program was the lowest bidder.

For years, advocates, including FAC, have encouraged the use of person-first language when talking about people on the sex offense registry. Instead of labels like “sex offender,” terms such as “registered citizen” or “person forced to register” have been used in an effort to reduce stigma and remind the public that people are more than the worst thing they have

A study, currently under review, concludes that registries obscure sexual recidivism risk. The citation to the study is: Hanson, R. Karl, German Marquez Alcala, and J. J. Prescott. “UNDER REVIEW (submitted July 7, 2025, to Psychology, Public Policy, and Law). The conclusion is: There is no evidence,however, that current public sex offender registries contribute to community safety. One reason they