Sex offender laws in the United States: smart policy or disproportionate sanctions?

Abstract

In the 1990s, the United States began enacting a series of laws to monitor and supervise sex offenders living in the community. These evolved to include Internet registries of sex offenders, sex offender residence restrictions, GPS monitoring, and even civil commitment of sex offenders at the conclusion of their criminal sentences. Though other countries have enacted legislation to monitor sex offenders, none have implemented laws impinging on the civil liberties of offenders to the extent of those in the United States. This article examines the basis of the US laws and their challenges, provides an overview of their efficacy, and compares the US approach to those of other countries.

Keywords:

• sex offenders
• sex offender laws
• residency restrictions
• civil commitment of sex offenders
• civil liberties of sex offenders

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Karen J. Terry

Karen J. Terry, PhD, is a Professor in the Criminal Justice Department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She holds a doctorate in criminology from Cambridge University and has several publications on sexual offending and victimization.