Collateral Consequences and Community Re-Entry for Registered Sex Offenders with Child Victims: Are the Challenges Even Greater?

Abstract

Sex offender registries are designed to enhance public safety (especially for children) by making community members aware of the identities and residential locations of convicted sex offenders in their neighborhoods. An emerging body of literature shows that registered sex offenders experience difficulties finding employment, housing, and generally reintegrating back into the community, all of which may have significant negative impacts on successful (and law-abiding) re-entry. To date the literature has not specifically assessed if and how collateral consequences and re-entry challenges may be more severe for sex offenders who victimize children. Drawing on data from registered sex offenders in five urban counties the present research finds that sex offenders who victimize children do not experience greater residential disadvantage than their adult-targeting counterparts. Therefore, issues of re-entry, reintegration and facilitators of rehabilitative efforts may not be more difficult or significant for sex offenders who victimize children.

Key Words:

• Sex offenders
• child victims
• residential characteristics
• collateral consequences