The Development of Evidence on Sexual Offense Policies

• In Event: Rutgers at 50: Evidence-based Practices and Post-Conviction Policies

Abstract

Sexual offense policies in the United States have been shaped by changing social attitudes, legal developments, and advocacy efforts aimed at promoting justice, protecting individuals, and preventing harm. Federally, these policies began in the mid-1990s and have been a mainstay in the U.S. justice system. Despite over twenty-five years of research on the lack of effectiveness of every policy focused on sexual offenses (residence restrictions, registration, notification, failure to register penalties, etc.), there have been minimal amendments to their implementation. This discussion will focus on the evolution of the empirical foundation (research findings) and the potential reasons for resistance to change. Legal precedent and bureaucratic inertia within the criminal justice system, as well as public sentiment will be discussed as obstacles of change.

Author

• Kristen Marie Zgoba, Florida International University