Developmental psychopathology theories suggest that childhood adversity can contribute to antisoc... more Developmental psychopathology theories suggest that childhood adversity can contribute to antisocial conduct and delinquent activities. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) on arrest patterns in a sample of sexual offenders (N = 740). Higher ACE scores were associated with a variety of arrest outcomes, indicating that the accumulation of early trauma increased the likelihood of versatility and persistence of criminal behavior. Rapists of adults had higher ACE scores, lower levels of specialization, and higher levels of persistence than sex offenders with minor victims only. Child sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and domestic violence in the childhood home were significant predictors of a higher number of sex crime arrests. For measures of nonsexual arrests and criminal versatility, it was the household dysfunction factors-substance abuse, unmarried parents, and incarceration of a family member-that were predictive, suggesting that family dysfunction and a chaotic home environment contributed significantly to increased risk of general criminal behavior. Sex offenders inspire little sympathy in our society but may be among those most in need of trauma-informed models of treatment that recognize the influence of early adversity on maladaptive schema and self-regulation deficits related to criminal behavior.
Particularly over the past two decades, the terms sex offender and juvenile sex offender (JSO) ha... more Particularly over the past two decades, the terms sex offender and juvenile sex offender (JSO) have attained increasingly common usage in media and public policy discourse. Although often applied as factual descriptors, the labels may evoke strong subconscious associations with a population commonly presumed to be compulsive, at high risk of re-offense, and resistant to rehabilitation. Such associations, in turn, may exert considerable impact on expressions of support for certain policies as well as public beliefs and opinions about adults and youth who have perpetrated sexual offenses. The current study systematically evaluated the impact of the “sex offender” and “JSO” labels through series of items administered to a nationally stratified and matched sample from across the United States. The study employed an experimental design, in which one group of participants (n = 498) ranked their levels of agreement with a series of statements utilizing these labels, and a control group (n = 502) responded to a matched set of statements substituting the labels with more neutral descriptive language. Findings support the hypothesis that use of the “sex offender” label strengthens public support for policies directed at those who have perpetrated sexual crimes, including public Internet disclosure, residency restrictions, and social networking bans. The “JSO” label is demonstrated to produce particularly robust effects, enhancing support for policies that subject youth to public Internet notification and affecting beliefs about youths’ propensity to re-offend as adults. Implications for public policy, media communication, and research are explored and discussed.
Relative to non-bias motivated crimes, hate crimes have much graver consequences for victims and ... more Relative to non-bias motivated crimes, hate crimes have much graver consequences for victims and their community. Despite the large increase in religious hate crimes over the past decade relative to all other hate crime, little is known about these types of crimes and the factors associated with both reporting to law enforcement and case outcomes. Utilizing the National Crime Victimization Survey and National Incident-Based Reporting System datasets, this study examines the relationship between victim, offender, and incident characteristics on reporting to law enforcement and case outcomes. Most religious hate crimes are not reported (41.3 %) in part due to perceptions of law enforcement's perceived response. Of the violent incidents that are reported, the vast majority do not result in the arrest of an offender (22.2 %). Whereas only a small number of variables related to the seriousness of the offense are associated with both reporting and arrest, these exhibited large effect sizes.
In November 2012, Massachusetts’ voters passed a medical marijuana law that was soon followed by ... more In November 2012, Massachusetts’ voters passed a medical marijuana law that was soon followed by municipal moratoriums prohibiting marijuana dispensaries. This study uses structural equation modeling to examine whether: 1) municipal characteristics predict voting outcomes for medical marijuana; 2) whether these same characteristics predict moratorium enactment; and 3) whether voting outcomes mediate the relationships between municipal characteristics and moratorium enactment.
Results indicate that municipal characteristics predict voter support and indifference for medical marijuana, and this support and indifferences in turn predicts moratorium passage. However, most municipal characteristics only indirectly affect moratorium passage via voting activity. This suggests moratorium enactment may be an extension of municipal voting activity, in turn reflecting the characteristics of a municipality’s population. Policy implications are discussed.
The 2011 trial of Casey Anthony for the murder of her child, Caylee, dominated media, public, and... more The 2011 trial of Casey Anthony for the murder of her child, Caylee, dominated media, public, and political attention in the United States. Anthony’s acquittal prompted many lawmakers to rally around “Caylee’s Law,” legislation that criminalizes the failure to report a missing child. This article considers the political rhetoric of Caylee’s Law by qualitatively evaluating statements made by state policymakers across the United States for the 12 months following Anthony’s acquittal. Policymakers’ rhetoric on Caylee’s Law exemplified the tendency to mobilize political action around “triggering events” through claims-making, to justify new penal legislation on the basis of worst case scenarios and public fears, and to demonize the accused in ways that reaffirm social solidarity in the face of heinous crimes. Policymakers used a variety of interconnected techniques to make claims about child protection, to justify the need for Caylee’s Law, and to label and degrade Casey Anthony.
This study examined the census tract characteristics associated with the spatial concentration of... more This study examined the census tract characteristics associated with the spatial concentration of registered sex offender (RSO) residences in 1,823 census tracts across 53 counties in upstate New York. The concentration of RSOs for each tract was measured using excess risk scores, which essentially measures disproportionate concentrations of RSOs based on the resident population of the county and tract. The tract characteristics examined included structure characteristics from the 2010 Census, such as indicators of social disorganization, housing availability and affordability, and population density, legal characteristics describing the presence of residence restrictions, and controls for spatial autocorrelation and regional differences.
Results indicate that RSOs are disproportionately more likely to be found in tracts exhibiting high levels of concentrated disadvantage, available housing, and affordable housing, and disproportionately less likely to be found in tracts with high levels of ethnic heterogeneity. Controlling for spatial autocorrelation (lag) did not change overall results, but was significantly and positively associated with excess risk. Implications for future policy and research practices are discussed.
The transience of registered sex offenders (RSOs) is a major impediment to reentry success, parti... more The transience of registered sex offenders (RSOs) is a major impediment to reentry success, particularly since it has been linked to increased absconding and recidivism, and thus decreased community safety. Unfortunately, there is limited existing research on what factors most influence this transience. The purpose of this study was to identify and explore the relative influence of factors predicting transience for RSOs. Using data gathered from the Florida sex offender registry and multiple supplemental state and federal data sources, the analysis revealed a number of county- and individual-level characteristics that are associated with the likelihood of RSO transience. At the county level, these include residence restriction coverage, housing affordability, and population density. At the individual level, these include age, minority status, victim type (minor vs. adult), risk level, supervision status, and prior failure to register convictions. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Sexual abuse : a journal of research and treatment, 2013
This study examines whether the presence of state residence restrictions resulted in changes in s... more This study examines whether the presence of state residence restrictions resulted in changes in statewide rates of forcible rape. It builds on the limited geographic coverage of prior studies by including state-level Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data across 19 years for 49 states and the District of Columbia. It uses a quasiexperimental research method based on a longitudinal fixed-effects panel model design, which can help control for relatively static differences between states. Results indicate that when a state residence restriction was present, regardless of how it was measured, rates of UCR forcible rape were higher in the state than when the policy was not present. This suggests that residence restrictions, at least at the state level, are not useful as an overall crime prevention measure, but may be useful for increasing detection or reporting levels of such crimes. However, results also suggest that the size of the increase varied by whether the policy only applied to offenders with child victims or also included those with adult victims. Implications for research and policy are discussed.
The purpose of this study was to better understand transient (homeless) sex offenders
in the co... more The purpose of this study was to better understand transient (homeless) sex offenders
in the context of residence restriction laws. Using the entire population of registered
sex offenders (RSOs) living in the community in Florida (n = 23,523), transients were
compared with other sex offenders on relevant demographics, risk factors, county
characteristics, and residence restriction variables. Significantly higher proportions
of transient sex offenders were found in counties with a larger number of local-level
restrictions, vast territory covered by these laws, wide-distance buffer zones, higher
population density, and expensive housing costs. Sex offenders were more likely
than the general population to become homeless. Transients were more likely than
non-transients to have a history of registry violation. Few transients absconded, but
when they did, they were more likely to abscond from registration than probation.
When implementing sex offender management policies, lawmakers should consider
transience as an unintended negative consequence
This essay briefly reviews the existing literature on residence restrictions, both in terms of pr... more This essay briefly reviews the existing literature on residence restrictions, both in terms of prior studies’ forms and findings. It examines why these findings have rarely been used in policy making and outlines ways that policy makers (and researchers) can better address the reentry needs of RSOs, as well as better address the public safety needs of communities. I hope policy makers, practitioners, and researchers consider this essay and its recommendations when deciding the future of these policies.
Abstract This study examined whether three measures of the spatial distribution of registered sex... more Abstract This study examined whether three measures of the spatial distribution of registered sex offenders (RSOs) in September 2010 were associated with differences in county-level rates of recidivistic sex crime arrests over the following year in 52 upstate New York counties. Results indicate that RSO clustering was positively associated with modest increases of recidivistic sex crime arrest rates, but results were significant only for adult victim sex crimes and only for certain types of RSO clustering.
This study examined whether sex offender residence restriction policies were associated with the ... more This study examined whether sex offender residence restriction policies were associated with the clustering of registered sex offender (RSO) residences in 3,056 upstate New York block groups. RSO clustering was measured as the average distance between an RSO and the five closest RSO neighbors, and was aggregated to the block group level. Controls were included for structural characteristics of block groups as well as regional differences within the study area. Results indicate that block groups with relatively newer residence restrictions had decreased RSO clustering (i.e., RSOs living farther apart from each other) compared to block groups without such policies. However, block groups that had residence restrictions for longer than about 2 years had similar RSO clustering levels to block groups without such policies. Results suggest a nonlinear relationship between how long a residence restriction is in place and RSO clustering levels. Implications for future research and policy are discussed.
Developmental psychopathology theories suggest that childhood adversity can contribute to antisoc... more Developmental psychopathology theories suggest that childhood adversity can contribute to antisocial conduct and delinquent activities. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) on arrest patterns in a sample of sexual offenders (N = 740). Higher ACE scores were associated with a variety of arrest outcomes, indicating that the accumulation of early trauma increased the likelihood of versatility and persistence of criminal behavior. Rapists of adults had higher ACE scores, lower levels of specialization, and higher levels of persistence than sex offenders with minor victims only. Child sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and domestic violence in the childhood home were significant predictors of a higher number of sex crime arrests. For measures of nonsexual arrests and criminal versatility, it was the household dysfunction factors-substance abuse, unmarried parents, and incarceration of a family member-that were predictive, suggesting that family dysfunction and a chaotic home environment contributed significantly to increased risk of general criminal behavior. Sex offenders inspire little sympathy in our society but may be among those most in need of trauma-informed models of treatment that recognize the influence of early adversity on maladaptive schema and self-regulation deficits related to criminal behavior.
Particularly over the past two decades, the terms sex offender and juvenile sex offender (JSO) ha... more Particularly over the past two decades, the terms sex offender and juvenile sex offender (JSO) have attained increasingly common usage in media and public policy discourse. Although often applied as factual descriptors, the labels may evoke strong subconscious associations with a population commonly presumed to be compulsive, at high risk of re-offense, and resistant to rehabilitation. Such associations, in turn, may exert considerable impact on expressions of support for certain policies as well as public beliefs and opinions about adults and youth who have perpetrated sexual offenses. The current study systematically evaluated the impact of the “sex offender” and “JSO” labels through series of items administered to a nationally stratified and matched sample from across the United States. The study employed an experimental design, in which one group of participants (n = 498) ranked their levels of agreement with a series of statements utilizing these labels, and a control group (n = 502) responded to a matched set of statements substituting the labels with more neutral descriptive language. Findings support the hypothesis that use of the “sex offender” label strengthens public support for policies directed at those who have perpetrated sexual crimes, including public Internet disclosure, residency restrictions, and social networking bans. The “JSO” label is demonstrated to produce particularly robust effects, enhancing support for policies that subject youth to public Internet notification and affecting beliefs about youths’ propensity to re-offend as adults. Implications for public policy, media communication, and research are explored and discussed.
Relative to non-bias motivated crimes, hate crimes have much graver consequences for victims and ... more Relative to non-bias motivated crimes, hate crimes have much graver consequences for victims and their community. Despite the large increase in religious hate crimes over the past decade relative to all other hate crime, little is known about these types of crimes and the factors associated with both reporting to law enforcement and case outcomes. Utilizing the National Crime Victimization Survey and National Incident-Based Reporting System datasets, this study examines the relationship between victim, offender, and incident characteristics on reporting to law enforcement and case outcomes. Most religious hate crimes are not reported (41.3 %) in part due to perceptions of law enforcement's perceived response. Of the violent incidents that are reported, the vast majority do not result in the arrest of an offender (22.2 %). Whereas only a small number of variables related to the seriousness of the offense are associated with both reporting and arrest, these exhibited large effect sizes.
In November 2012, Massachusetts’ voters passed a medical marijuana law that was soon followed by ... more In November 2012, Massachusetts’ voters passed a medical marijuana law that was soon followed by municipal moratoriums prohibiting marijuana dispensaries. This study uses structural equation modeling to examine whether: 1) municipal characteristics predict voting outcomes for medical marijuana; 2) whether these same characteristics predict moratorium enactment; and 3) whether voting outcomes mediate the relationships between municipal characteristics and moratorium enactment.
Results indicate that municipal characteristics predict voter support and indifference for medical marijuana, and this support and indifferences in turn predicts moratorium passage. However, most municipal characteristics only indirectly affect moratorium passage via voting activity. This suggests moratorium enactment may be an extension of municipal voting activity, in turn reflecting the characteristics of a municipality’s population. Policy implications are discussed.
The 2011 trial of Casey Anthony for the murder of her child, Caylee, dominated media, public, and... more The 2011 trial of Casey Anthony for the murder of her child, Caylee, dominated media, public, and political attention in the United States. Anthony’s acquittal prompted many lawmakers to rally around “Caylee’s Law,” legislation that criminalizes the failure to report a missing child. This article considers the political rhetoric of Caylee’s Law by qualitatively evaluating statements made by state policymakers across the United States for the 12 months following Anthony’s acquittal. Policymakers’ rhetoric on Caylee’s Law exemplified the tendency to mobilize political action around “triggering events” through claims-making, to justify new penal legislation on the basis of worst case scenarios and public fears, and to demonize the accused in ways that reaffirm social solidarity in the face of heinous crimes. Policymakers used a variety of interconnected techniques to make claims about child protection, to justify the need for Caylee’s Law, and to label and degrade Casey Anthony.
This study examined the census tract characteristics associated with the spatial concentration of... more This study examined the census tract characteristics associated with the spatial concentration of registered sex offender (RSO) residences in 1,823 census tracts across 53 counties in upstate New York. The concentration of RSOs for each tract was measured using excess risk scores, which essentially measures disproportionate concentrations of RSOs based on the resident population of the county and tract. The tract characteristics examined included structure characteristics from the 2010 Census, such as indicators of social disorganization, housing availability and affordability, and population density, legal characteristics describing the presence of residence restrictions, and controls for spatial autocorrelation and regional differences.
Results indicate that RSOs are disproportionately more likely to be found in tracts exhibiting high levels of concentrated disadvantage, available housing, and affordable housing, and disproportionately less likely to be found in tracts with high levels of ethnic heterogeneity. Controlling for spatial autocorrelation (lag) did not change overall results, but was significantly and positively associated with excess risk. Implications for future policy and research practices are discussed.
The transience of registered sex offenders (RSOs) is a major impediment to reentry success, parti... more The transience of registered sex offenders (RSOs) is a major impediment to reentry success, particularly since it has been linked to increased absconding and recidivism, and thus decreased community safety. Unfortunately, there is limited existing research on what factors most influence this transience. The purpose of this study was to identify and explore the relative influence of factors predicting transience for RSOs. Using data gathered from the Florida sex offender registry and multiple supplemental state and federal data sources, the analysis revealed a number of county- and individual-level characteristics that are associated with the likelihood of RSO transience. At the county level, these include residence restriction coverage, housing affordability, and population density. At the individual level, these include age, minority status, victim type (minor vs. adult), risk level, supervision status, and prior failure to register convictions. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Sexual abuse : a journal of research and treatment, 2013
This study examines whether the presence of state residence restrictions resulted in changes in s... more This study examines whether the presence of state residence restrictions resulted in changes in statewide rates of forcible rape. It builds on the limited geographic coverage of prior studies by including state-level Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data across 19 years for 49 states and the District of Columbia. It uses a quasiexperimental research method based on a longitudinal fixed-effects panel model design, which can help control for relatively static differences between states. Results indicate that when a state residence restriction was present, regardless of how it was measured, rates of UCR forcible rape were higher in the state than when the policy was not present. This suggests that residence restrictions, at least at the state level, are not useful as an overall crime prevention measure, but may be useful for increasing detection or reporting levels of such crimes. However, results also suggest that the size of the increase varied by whether the policy only applied to offenders with child victims or also included those with adult victims. Implications for research and policy are discussed.
The purpose of this study was to better understand transient (homeless) sex offenders
in the co... more The purpose of this study was to better understand transient (homeless) sex offenders
in the context of residence restriction laws. Using the entire population of registered
sex offenders (RSOs) living in the community in Florida (n = 23,523), transients were
compared with other sex offenders on relevant demographics, risk factors, county
characteristics, and residence restriction variables. Significantly higher proportions
of transient sex offenders were found in counties with a larger number of local-level
restrictions, vast territory covered by these laws, wide-distance buffer zones, higher
population density, and expensive housing costs. Sex offenders were more likely
than the general population to become homeless. Transients were more likely than
non-transients to have a history of registry violation. Few transients absconded, but
when they did, they were more likely to abscond from registration than probation.
When implementing sex offender management policies, lawmakers should consider
transience as an unintended negative consequence
This essay briefly reviews the existing literature on residence restrictions, both in terms of pr... more This essay briefly reviews the existing literature on residence restrictions, both in terms of prior studies’ forms and findings. It examines why these findings have rarely been used in policy making and outlines ways that policy makers (and researchers) can better address the reentry needs of RSOs, as well as better address the public safety needs of communities. I hope policy makers, practitioners, and researchers consider this essay and its recommendations when deciding the future of these policies.
Abstract This study examined whether three measures of the spatial distribution of registered sex... more Abstract This study examined whether three measures of the spatial distribution of registered sex offenders (RSOs) in September 2010 were associated with differences in county-level rates of recidivistic sex crime arrests over the following year in 52 upstate New York counties. Results indicate that RSO clustering was positively associated with modest increases of recidivistic sex crime arrest rates, but results were significant only for adult victim sex crimes and only for certain types of RSO clustering.
This study examined whether sex offender residence restriction policies were associated with the ... more This study examined whether sex offender residence restriction policies were associated with the clustering of registered sex offender (RSO) residences in 3,056 upstate New York block groups. RSO clustering was measured as the average distance between an RSO and the five closest RSO neighbors, and was aggregated to the block group level. Controls were included for structural characteristics of block groups as well as regional differences within the study area. Results indicate that block groups with relatively newer residence restrictions had decreased RSO clustering (i.e., RSOs living farther apart from each other) compared to block groups without such policies. However, block groups that had residence restrictions for longer than about 2 years had similar RSO clustering levels to block groups without such policies. Results suggest a nonlinear relationship between how long a residence restriction is in place and RSO clustering levels. Implications for future research and policy are discussed.
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Results indicate that municipal characteristics predict voter support and indifference for medical marijuana, and this support and indifferences in turn predicts moratorium passage. However, most municipal characteristics only indirectly affect moratorium passage via voting activity. This suggests moratorium enactment may be an extension of municipal voting activity, in turn reflecting the characteristics of a municipality’s population. Policy implications are discussed.
Results indicate that RSOs are disproportionately more likely to be found in tracts exhibiting high levels of concentrated disadvantage, available housing, and affordable housing, and disproportionately less likely to be found in tracts with high levels of ethnic heterogeneity. Controlling for spatial autocorrelation (lag) did not change overall results, but was significantly and positively associated with excess risk. Implications for future policy and research practices are discussed.
in the context of residence restriction laws. Using the entire population of registered
sex offenders (RSOs) living in the community in Florida (n = 23,523), transients were
compared with other sex offenders on relevant demographics, risk factors, county
characteristics, and residence restriction variables. Significantly higher proportions
of transient sex offenders were found in counties with a larger number of local-level
restrictions, vast territory covered by these laws, wide-distance buffer zones, higher
population density, and expensive housing costs. Sex offenders were more likely
than the general population to become homeless. Transients were more likely than
non-transients to have a history of registry violation. Few transients absconded, but
when they did, they were more likely to abscond from registration than probation.
When implementing sex offender management policies, lawmakers should consider
transience as an unintended negative consequence
Results indicate that municipal characteristics predict voter support and indifference for medical marijuana, and this support and indifferences in turn predicts moratorium passage. However, most municipal characteristics only indirectly affect moratorium passage via voting activity. This suggests moratorium enactment may be an extension of municipal voting activity, in turn reflecting the characteristics of a municipality’s population. Policy implications are discussed.
Results indicate that RSOs are disproportionately more likely to be found in tracts exhibiting high levels of concentrated disadvantage, available housing, and affordable housing, and disproportionately less likely to be found in tracts with high levels of ethnic heterogeneity. Controlling for spatial autocorrelation (lag) did not change overall results, but was significantly and positively associated with excess risk. Implications for future policy and research practices are discussed.
in the context of residence restriction laws. Using the entire population of registered
sex offenders (RSOs) living in the community in Florida (n = 23,523), transients were
compared with other sex offenders on relevant demographics, risk factors, county
characteristics, and residence restriction variables. Significantly higher proportions
of transient sex offenders were found in counties with a larger number of local-level
restrictions, vast territory covered by these laws, wide-distance buffer zones, higher
population density, and expensive housing costs. Sex offenders were more likely
than the general population to become homeless. Transients were more likely than
non-transients to have a history of registry violation. Few transients absconded, but
when they did, they were more likely to abscond from registration than probation.
When implementing sex offender management policies, lawmakers should consider
transience as an unintended negative consequence