NCJ Number
227687
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: May-June 2009 Pages: 290-301
Date Published
June 2009
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the types of sexual offenders that elicit the most self-reported fear by respondents and the propensity for respondents to agree that various types of sex offenders need to be registered.
Abstract
The study found that respondents indicated the greatest amount of fear toward offenders against children. In addition, respondents indicated the greatest amount of agreement with registration requirements for these types of offenders. Future research recommends a closer examination of the link between fear of various offender types, attitudes toward registration, and actual behaviors in response to being notified that a sex offender is living in an individual's neighborhood. To date, the research on sex offender registries and the possibility of provoking fear in residents is mixed. This study explored the relationship between fear of various types of sexual offenders and a belief that those sexual offenders should be subject to sex offender registration. The study hypothesized that respondents would report the greatest amount of fear for sexual offenders who victimize children and that people would report the least amount of fear for offenders who commit spousal or statutory rape. In addition, it was hypothesized that the higher the level of self-reported fear for a specific type of sexual offender, the higher the agreement would be that the offender should be required to register. As part of a telephone survey, 733 participants answered questions about fear of sex offenders and agreement with requirements about registration for offenders convicted of incest, statutory rape, marital rape, pedophilia, date rape, and an offense committed more than 10 years prior. Tables and references