Sex Offender Policies that Spin the Revolving Door: The Relationships between Residence Restrictions, Homelessness, and Recidivism

• In Event: Sexual Offending: Perceptions of Victims and Consequences for Offenders

Abstract

Within the past two decades, a variety of specialized sex offender legislation has been implemented across the United States. Typically brought about in attempt to ebb the societal disquiet after notorious sexual assault cases are sensationalized in the media, these policies appear to lack any evidence-based foundation. In fact, empirical research suggests that policies such as sex offender registration, community notification, and residence restrictions do little to prevent sexual offending, and may actually work to increase the risk of these events. The current study critically examines the sex offender residence restriction (SORR) that was implemented in South Carolina in 2011, and explores the collateral consequences that have resulted. Specifically, we explore rates of homelessness before and after the SORR was put into place, and consider whether experiences of homelessness are related to reoffending.

Authors

• Deanna Cann, University of South Carolina

• Deena Isom Scott, University of South Carolina