The Effect of Megan’s Law on Sex Offender Reintegration

doi:10.1177/1043986204271676

Paper

The Effect of Megan’s Law on Sex Offender Reintegration

Published Feb 1, 2005 · J. Levenson, Leo P. Cotter

Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice

Q1 SJR score

464

Citations

63

Influential Citations

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to better understand the positive and negative, intended and unintended, consequences of community notification on sex offenders’ rehabilitation and reintegration. A sample of 183 convicted male sex offenders from Florida completed the survey. Overall, about one third of participants had experienced dire events, such as the loss of a job or home, threats or harassment, or property damage. Physical assaultwas a relatively rare occurrence. The majority identified negative effects, such as stress, isolation, loss of relationships, fear, shame, embarrassment, and hopelessness. Some participants noted positive effects of Megan’s Law, including motivation to prevent reoffense and increased honesty with friends and family. Fewsex offenders believed that communities are safer because of Megan’s Law, and more than half reported that the information posted about them on Florida’s Internet registry was incorrect. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.

Highly Cited

Study Snapshot

Megan's Law has both positive and negative effects on sex offenders' rehabilitation and reintegration, with some positive effects and some negative effects.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

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The Effect of Megan’s Law on Sex Offender Reintegration

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References

The impact of community notification laws on sex offender treatment attitudes.

Community notification laws, such as Megan's Law, can potentially impact sex offender treatment attitudes by disclosing information about convicted sex offenders to the public.

First Report of the Collaborative Outcome Data Project on the Effectiveness of Psychological Treatment for Sex Offenders

Psychological treatment, particularly cognitive-behavioral and systemic, effectively reduces sexual recidivism and general recidivism in sex offenders, while older treatments show little effect.

Contextualizing Sex Offender Management Legislation and Policy: Evaluating the Problem of Latent Consequences in Community Notification Laws

Sex offender management legislation may create unintended problems for offenders and the community, and addressing these issues with therapeutic jurisprudence may help address these issues.

Sex offender community notification: managing high risk criminals or exacting further vengeance?

Community notification of convicted sex offenders can negatively impact their reintegration into the community, with stable housing and employment being crucial for successful reintegration.

Sex offender community notification: examining the importance of neighborhood meetings.

Community notification meetings can effectively manage sex offender behavior in communities, but may increase community anxiety based on how residents are notified, the meeting's purpose, and meeting organization.

Citations

What About Language?: A Mixed Methods Examination of the Impact of Person-Centered Language on Students' Perceptions of Individuals Who Commit Sex Offenses.

Person-centered language in criminal justice classrooms can reduce stigma and shift punitive attitudes towards sex offenses, but its impact alone is limited.

A Qualitative Systematic Review of the Barriers and Facilitators of the Reintegration of Men Convicted of a Sexual Offense From Prison or Secure Care into the Community

Formal and cultural barriers, such as probation services, stigmatization, and registration, are the largest barriers to successful reintegration of male sexual offenders from prison or secure care into the community.

Facial first impressions following a prison sentence: Negative shift in trait ratings but the same underlying structure

Facial first impressions of individuals with a prison sentence show a negative shift in social evaluation, but the underlying structure remains the same.

The lived experiences of women who discovered their partner perpetrated a sexual offence

Non-offending partners (NOPs) of men who committed sexual offenses experience immediate and profound consequences, highlighting the need for immediate signposting to support services and humanistic counselling approaches.

“Why Moan About It?” An IPA Analysis of Ex-Core Members’ Experience of a Pandemic Without a CoSA

Ex-Core Members of CoSA experience varying levels of support and adaptability after volunteers stop helping, with some relying more on informal community support and others avoiding transparency.

Perspectives of reentry and desistance: a comparison of individuals convicted of general and sexual offenses

Individuals convicted of sexual offenses face unique challenges in reentry, highlighting the need for programming and transition services to prepare them for reentry.