A report from the Australian Institute of Criminology. which examined the public registry in the United States and the non-public registries in the UK and Western Australia came to the conclusion that registries are not effective in reducing recidivism.

Among other findings, the report highlighted some facts we already know:

  • There is no significant difference in sex offense recidivism in the 4.5 year follow-up period for pre-Megan’s Law offenders and post-Megan’s Law.
  • Sex Offender Registration and Notification did not prevent sexual offending in the general community.
  • There is no difference in sex offense recidivism between offenders who registered and those who did not
  • Being placed on a public sex offender registry can result in exclusion from a neighborhood or residence, job loss, anxiety and other psychological problems, all of which are counterproductive in terms of reducing re-offending.
  • 95 percent of sexual offenses were committed by those without prior sexual assault convictions.
  • There is a two to eight percent decrease in the sale prices of residential properties near a registered sexual offender’s residence, along with an 84 percent increase in the time residential properties spend on the market.
  • Two-thirds of law enforcement surveyed, felt labor expenditure in managing the registry had become an issue of concern.
  • Vigilantism
    • 44 percent of registered sexual offenders reported experiencing threats or harassment by neighbors
    • around 20 percent experienced threats or harassment in general.
    • 16 percent of offenders reported that their family members or other cohabitants had been harassed, attacked or had property
      damaged as a result of their registration.
    • 8 percent experiencing physical attacks
    • 14 percent reporting some form of property damage.

 

The link to the complete study is below:

ti_what_impact_do_public_sex_offender_registries_have_on_community_safety_220518

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