Community Notification Laws

Abstract

Abstract : Community notification was a political response to repeat sex offending fueled by activists and the media's demand for rigid control of sex offenders; however, notification has failed to provide community protection from sex offenders. Data suggest the laws adversely affect the offender's ability to reintegrate into society and have unintended consequences for many others, including the offender's family, other innocent individuals, and the community. Furthermore, a false sense of security and reductions in incest reporting continue to victimize children, which results in further sex offender laws passed by legislatures without empirical data supporting such laws. Community support for notification laws and other restrictions continues to be strong, regardless of the consequences to the offender or other innocent individuals, even though there are a high percentage of community members willing to leave their children unattended regardless of sex offender presence. Research data suggest that sex offenders are a heterogeneous group of individuals, that reoffense rates are relatively low for some offenders, and that a holistic approach to sex offender treatment does reduce reoffense rates even further. Therefore, recommendations listed include eliminating community notification and implementing confidential notification, properly sentencing and treating sex offenders, increasing probation and parole officer quotas, and creating laws focused on proper child supervision.