Assessing Collateral Consequences Accompanying Sex Offender Registration

• In Event: Posters I

Abstract

Sex Offenders are often demonized, feared, villainized, ostracized and stigmatized. In response to this fear, sex offender registries were created as a method for monitoring convicted offenders and for providing communities with a sense of security by publicizing information about potential predators nearby. The underlying questions are whether or not notification and registration laws actually reduce crime and make the community safer? My argument is that they do more harm than good due to the collateral consequences experienced by the offender and their family. These consequences can include bullying, housing issues, employment issues, harassment and etc. My poster will include photographed evidence of these consequences along with a small literature review about collateral consequences frequently experienced by sex offenders and their families.

Author

• MiKayla Charles, Eastern Kentucky University