1 Very Good article:

The New McCarthyism - Human Rights Watch Addresses Difficult Problem

http://tinyurl.com/2dgn8b

2 Interesting article. And certainly, I'm conscious of unintended consequences of laws. But I'd question the article's claim that sex offenders don't have a high recidivism rate. I'd like to see concrete data on that one before I believe it.

I also don't have much compassion for a law that requires someone who rapes children to have to live "far from their family."

3 Laws need to be passed on EMPIRICAL DATA and not emotion created by media hype and polititians need for votes.

White Papers, Studies, Official Government Reports, Empirical Information

Public Perceptions About Sex Offenders and Community Protection Policies
2007 Jill S. Levenson, Yolanda N. Brannon, Timothy Fortney, Juanita Baker 25 Pages; 536 KB
The hypothesis that community members hold inaccurate beliefs about sex offenders was supported. Respondents estimated sex offense recidivism rates to be around 75%. In contrast, the best available evidence suggests that sex offense recidivism rates range from 5 to 14% over 3- to 6-year follow-up periods (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2003; Hanson & Morton-Bourgon, 2004, 2005) and 24% over 15-year follow-up periods (Harris & Hanson, 2004). Although official recidivism data underestimate true reoffense rates (Hanson&Bussiere, 199, ample evidence suggests that the majority of convicted sex offenders do not go on to commit new sex crimes. It might have been interesting to ask respondents about their sources information, but we speculate that the media furnishes a substantial amount of this type of data to most people (Lotke, 1997; Proctor et al., 2002; Sample & Kadleck, 2006).

Respondents were accurate in their assessment that many victims know their abusers, but overestimated the number of sexual assaults committed by strangers. Apparently the myth that many rapes occur in dark alleys remains prevalent, despite evidence to the contrary (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2002, 2004). Also, there continues to be a perception that sex crime rates are on the rise, probably due to the attention that these crimes receive in the media. In fact, rape arrest rates have decreased steadily since 1991 (Maguire & Pastore, 2003), and child sexual abuse rates have also declined (Finkelhor & Jones, 2004; Jones & Finkelhor, 2003).

In sum, these data have important implications for public policy. Our hypothesis that the public is poorly informed about sex offenders was supported. Specifically, myths of extraordinarily high recidivism rates and stranger danger prevail, and the public appears to view all sex offenders as posing a similar threat to communities. These widespread beliefs perpetuate the development of increasingly restrictive policies as politicians endeavor to serve their constituents. In actuality, sex offenders represent a diversity of offense patterns and a wide range of risk for reoffense (Doren, 1998; Hanson & Bussiere, 1998; Hanson & Morton-Bourgon, 2004; Harris & Hanson, 2004; Prentky et al., 1997). As a result, one-size-fits-all policies are not likely to be cost efficient, nor are they likely to afford maximum protection to the public.
www.asap-spssi.org/pdf/0701Levenson.pdf

4 Excellent information, thank you. One part I'd also like, because I didn't think that recidivism rates were that high -- is how often that a person who commits a sex abuse crime has committed one in the past. In other words, I realize that many who commit the crimes don't commit more, but if the vast majority of those who DO commit this type of crime have done it in the past, I see an inherent risk in allowing people like this to go free. And believe me, I take it quite seriously taking away someone's liberty.

And I also do realize that many things that are considered "sex crimes" should not be crimes at all, much less "sex" crimes.

5 White Papers, Studies, Official Government Reports, Empirical Information

Statement on Sex Offender Residency Restrictions in Iowa
February 14, 2006 Iowa County Attorneys Association 5 Pages; 108KB
The Iowa County Attorneys Association believes that the 2,000 foot residency restriction for persons who have been convicted of sex offenses involving minors does not provide the protection that was originally intended and that the cost of enforcing the requirements and the unintended effects on families of offenders warrant replacing the restriction with more effective protective measures.
www.iowa-icaa.com/ICAA%20STATEMENTS/Sex%20Offender%20Residency%20Statement%20Feb%2014%2006%20for%20website.pdf


Twenty Findings of Research on Residential Restrictions for Sex Offenders and the Iowa Experience with Similar Policies
2006 Compilation of experts
1. Housing restrictions appear to be based largely on three myths that are repeatedly propagated by the media: 1) all sex offenders reoffend; 2) treatment does not work; and 3) the concept of 'stranger danger.' Research does not support these myths, but there is research to suggest that such policies may ultimately be counterproductive. Sex offender residence restrictions. A Report to the Florida Legislature, October 2005, Jill S. Levinson, Ph.D.
4. There is no demonstrated protective effect of the residency requirement that justifies the huge draining of scarce law enforcement resources in the effort to enforce the restriction. Iowa County Attorneys Association
10. The sex offender residency restriction was a very well intentioned effort to keep the children of our communities safe from sex offenders. It has, however, had unintended consequences that effectively decrease community safety. Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault
19. A significant number of offenders have married or have been reunited with their victims; and, in those cases, the residency restriction is imposed on the victims as well as the offenders. Iowa County Attorneys Association
www.dc.state.ks.us/publications/sex-offender-housing-restrictions

6 Indeed, the perception that all sex offenders re-offend is out there. I have also heard reported (as you can see by my comments) that treatment doesn't work (short of castration or the like). I've never bought into the concept that strangers are the worst offenders. I've always thought the concept of telling kids to beware of strangers just creates a horrible world and society.

These are great links and reports, thank you for sending them along. I know some of the people from Jessica's Law stop by and read here now and then, I'd love to hear their reactions to some of these.

7
Banishment or Facilitated Reentry: A Human Rights Perspective

November 17, 2005 Corinne A. Carey, Esq., Human Rights Watch, ATSA Conference 31 Pages; 181KB
The consequences of violating privacy rights: • Employment; • Housing; • Family integrity; • Human dignity.

What are we doing wrong? Registration and community notification laws sweep far too broadly.
• Result: Far too many people are subject to stigma and restrictions; resources and attention are unfocused. By labeling a person a 'sex offender,' the state justifies denying that person fundamental human rights.
• Result: 'Sex offenders; are alienated, have little investment in the responsibilities that accompany human rights; there is a strong disincentive to register as a 'sex offender.' Registration and community notification laws sweep far too broadly.
• Result: Far too many people are subject to stigma and restrictions; resources and attention are unfocused. By labeling a person a 'sex offender,' the state justifies denying that person fundamental human rights.
• Result: 'Sex offenders' are alienated, have little investment in the responsibilities that accompany human rights; there is a strong disincentive to register as a 'sex offender.'
www.soclear.org/MultiMedia/Documents/CorrineCarey-SLC_ATSA-1.pdf
www.soclear.org/MultiMedia/Documents/CorrineCarey-SLC_ATSA-1.ppt (PowerPoint 30 slides)

8 I agree with those conclusions -- but if an adult sexually attacks a child under age 10, they SHOULD be stigmatized. They should be denied fundamental human rights. Hell, they should almost be put to death, in my opinion.

Again, I think the definition of a "sex offender" is way too broad currently.

9 I'm searching for more on treatment. lol Great question.

States Aim To Stop Sex Offenders: Will New laws Keep Children Safe?
Fall/Winter 2006 Lori Robertson - The Children's Beat 4 Pages; 907KB
Nancy Sabin is the Executive Director of the Jacob Wetterling Foundation, an organization founded by the parents of Minnesota boy who was kidnapped when he was 11 years old and has never been found. 'Jacob's Law.' a 1997 federal act mandating greater registration requirements for sex offenders, is among the foundation's legislative accomplishments. But Sabin criticizes the narrow focus of the recent spat of laws. 'If your charged and convicted, that represents 10% of the (sex) crimes,' She say's explaining that the largest groups of offenders are those who are unknown (graph below) or uncharged. So, the question she has: Why are all the resources targeting this tiny group?

When you factor in the small percentage of that group that will reoffend, the focus becomes even narrower, she say's. Sabin would like to see more dollars spent on education and awareness programs, treatment and transition into society. 'What I'm saying, is we're not turning the water off at the faucet,' Sabin says. 'How quickly are we going to reduce the problem?'

10 "Are Sex Offenders Treatable?
A Research Overview
Linda S. Grossman, Ph.D.
Brian Martis, M.D.
Christopher G. Fichtner, M.D.
Few issues in the mental health
field are capable of stirring
more controversy than the
psychiatric treatment of sex offenders.
Recent legislation in a growing
number of states providing for civil
commitment and preventive detention
of sexually violent persons (1,2)
has fueled long-standing debates on
the diagnosis of paraphilias, the nature
of mental illness, and the treatability
of sex offenders (3).
Objective:
This file is way too big for here. but if you go to http://sosen.us/ join their National and look at their file section under "Reports and Studies," you will find much valuable research and emperical data

11 This is very interesting

The Influence of Sex Offender Registration and Notification Laws in the United States

October, 2005 Arkansas Crime Information Center: Jeffery T. Walker, PhD, Sean Maddan, Bob E. Vásquez, Amy C. VanHouten, Gwen Ervin-McLarty 19 Pages; 53.5KB
The key finding of this research is that the passage of sex offender registration and notification laws have had no systematic influence on the number of rapes committed in these states as a whole. Most of the states in our sample (five of ten) showed no significant differences (increase or decrease) in the average number of rapes committed before and after the sex offender laws...

These findings beg the question of what is occurring concerning the relationship between sex offender registration and notification and subsequent sex offending. It is possible, as Sample’s (2001) research indicated, that this was knee jerk legislation based simply on keeping the constituency happy. If that is true, sex offender registration and notification laws are failed legislation...

[T]he rationale behind sex offender laws would assume that a majority of the offenses committed within the confines of any year would actually be sex offenders who are re-offending. A potential alternative assumption is that in those states with increases (roughly half of the states examined here), it would be expected that these offenders would be first time offenders or offenders who have never been caught before. This is supported by Walker and McLarty (2000) who found that 73% of sex offenders in their study committed a sex offense as their first offense. If this is the case, it would be expected that sex offender registration and notification is not able to control this population because a substantial number of them are committing sex offenses as their first offense. Hence, there is no name on the register and no way to inform the community...
www.acic.org/statistics/Research/SO_Report_Final.pdf

12

Societal Myths about Sex Offending and Consequences for Prevention of Offending Behavior Against Children and Women
James Krivacska, assisted by James Free, Richard Gibb and Drew Kinnear
Ultimately, society's interests are not served by preservation of myths about sex offending behavior. Especially in these times, when it appears that incidence of sex offending behavior is increasing despite the heightened punishments that are being put into place, society needs to understand how sex offending behavior develops and what it can do to prevent offending behavior. Community/Internet notification represents after-the-fact prevention. As noted in the outset of this article, society needs to begin addressing prevention before the fact, since most offenses are committed by first time offenders. In fact, between 10% to 20% of male community samples (e.g., university students, hospital staff, etc.) admit to sexual offending (Hanson & Scott, 1995; Lisak & Roth, 1988; Templeman & Stinnett, 1991). As part of the recovery effort and treatment program at ADTC, and as part of a personal commitment to "No More Victims," many inmates at ADTC have spent considerable time and energy exploring the nature of the offending behavior in which they engage. The ultimate challenge to a society which wants to protect its citizens, young and old alike, from sex offending behavior is to look realistically at the problem and to recognize that a potential sex offender may be living in their community, working in their business, residing even in their homes. They most also recognize that dynamics are currently in place in contemporary society to foster the growth of the next generation of sexual offenders among their own children. Society's ability to effectively and proactively prevent sexual offending behavior in the future may be directly related to its willingness to abandon the pursuit of interventions based on the myths which hithertofore have remained impervious to rational challenge and revision.
www.ipt-forensics.com/journal/volume11/j11_1_2.htm

13 Thanks for all this information and links. I've got some reading to do!