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Sex Offenders in the Community: Post-Release, Registration, Notification and Residency Restrictions

Speakers
Karen J. Bachar, Social Science Analyst, Violence and Victimization Research Division, Office of Research and Evaluation, National Institute of Justice, Washington, D.C.; Elizabeth J. Letourneau, Assistant Professor, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston; Kristen M. Zgoba, Research Scientist, New Jersey Department of Corrections, Trenton; Alisa Klein, Public Policy Consultant, Association for the Treatment of Sex Abusers, Beaverton, Ore.

The management of sexual offenders in the community post-release is an issue of increasing concern to law enforcement, policymakers and the public. In recent years, efforts to strengthen registration and notification have been enhanced. At the same time, comparatively little attention has been paid to related matters, such as how residency restrictions may impact offenders' efforts to find stable work and living arrangements once they are released from prison, whether rates of recidivism have changed, and whether these policies increase the safety of potential victims. Panelists will explore what recent research says about these concerns.

Date Published: May 31, 2010