Non-compliance with Sex Offender Registration: Law Enforcement Perspectives

• In Event: Advances in Sex Offense Policy Research: Law Enforcement Uses of Sex Offender Registration Systems

Abstract

This mixed-method study systematically investigated how registry data is utilized by law enforcement agents in practice to track and monitor offenders and to enforce statutory compliance. The presentation will draw upon data collected in two phases: 1) a series of semi-structured, in-person interviews conducted with law enforcement professionals between February and June 2014; and 2) a national online survey of police and sheriff agencies conducted in the Spring of 2015.  The interviews and survey explored many dimensions of law enforcement experiences with SORN systems and related aspects of non-SORN community-based sex offender management.  The current presentation focuses on exploring law enforcement views on: 1) definitions of non-compliance; 2) frequency of non-compliance; 3) motivations or reasons for non-compliance, and 4) challenges to managing non-compliance. We will present basic summaries of the themes emerging from the interviews, followed by associated survey results and analyses comparing the views of agency leadership, line uniformed personnel, and civilian personnel involved in SORN-related duties.    

Authors

• Scott M. Walfield, East Carolina University

• Jill Levenson, Barry University

• Michelle A. Cubellis, University of Massachusetts Lowell

• Andrew Harris, University of Massachusetts Lowell