Public Perception of Sexual Offenders as Romantic Partners

• In Event: The Social Construction of Sexual Violence

Abstract

A plethora of research has shown the importance of romantic relationships on offender desistance and re-entry. However, there is minimal research on the public perception of offenders as suitable romantic partners. The current research examines the public perception of offenders as suitable romantic partners within certain subgroups of offenders (violent, property, and drug types). Still, no research has examined the romantic desirability among the most stigmatized group of individuals (i.e., sexual offenders), while also examining the confounding effect of employment status. Using an experimental vignette survey design, this study aims to understand the desirability and public perception of certain sexual offender types (those convicted of, and on the sex offender registry for, child pornography and statutory rape) as possible romantic partners. This study utilizes a control group (i.e., vignettes with no conviction disclosure) for comparison purposes. Varying employment status' of the offenders depicted in the vignette will determine whether financial status mediates the relationship between sexual offender status, and participant willingness to date and other similar outcomes. Further, certain participant demographic and criminal justice involvement variables will be examined to determine what factors either increase or decrease participant willingness to date the hypothetical individual portrayed in the vignette.

Author

• Noreen Ali, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice