When a Sex Offender Comes to Visit: A National Assessment of Travel Restrictions

Abstract

The present study examines the registration requirements for registered sex offenders traveling from their resident state to another state for business or pleasure. The author contacted each state’s primary Sex Offender Registration and Notification (SORN) office to obtain the required registration requirements for nonresident sex offenders, as well as where and how nonresident sex offenders can obtain this information prior to visiting that state. The findings indicate that registration requirements and residence restrictions vary significantly by state for nonresident registrants. While not surprising given that numerous studies have highlighted that sex offender policies produce unique and severe challenges for all sex offenders in the United States. This study, however, suggests that nonresident sex offender policies are potentially another collateral consequences for registrants. Most notably, there is significant variation in the number of days a registered sex offender has to register in any given ...