Legislation Targeting Sex Offenders: Are Recent Policies Effective in Reducing Rape?

Alissa R. Ackerman; Meghan Sacks; David F. Greenberg

doi:10.1080/07418825.2011.566887

Legislation Targeting Sex Offenders: Are Recent Policies Effective in Reducing Rape?

Alissa R. Ackerman, Meghan Sacks, David F. Greenberg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

In recent years, several pieces of state and federal legislation have imposed new restrictions on convicted sex offenders, including registration with law enforcement agencies, community notification provisions, and sexually violent predator designations permitting civil commitment following a prison sentence. This paper uses panel data for the American states for the years 1970-2002 to assess the impact of these policies on the rate at which rapes occur. Our research finds no evidence that our current policies reduce the incidence of rape.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	858-887
Number of pages	30
Journal	Justice Quarterly
Volume	29
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2011.566887
State	Published - Dec 2012

Keywords

community notification
imprisonment
rape
registration
sexually violent predator

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Law

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10.1080/07418825.2011.566887

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abstract = "In recent years, several pieces of state and federal legislation have imposed new restrictions on convicted sex offenders, including registration with law enforcement agencies, community notification provisions, and sexually violent predator designations permitting civil commitment following a prison sentence. This paper uses panel data for the American states for the years 1970-2002 to assess the impact of these policies on the rate at which rapes occur. Our research finds no evidence that our current policies reduce the incidence of rape.",

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AB - In recent years, several pieces of state and federal legislation have imposed new restrictions on convicted sex offenders, including registration with law enforcement agencies, community notification provisions, and sexually violent predator designations permitting civil commitment following a prison sentence. This paper uses panel data for the American states for the years 1970-2002 to assess the impact of these policies on the rate at which rapes occur. Our research finds no evidence that our current policies reduce the incidence of rape.

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Legislation Targeting Sex Offenders: Are Recent Policies Effective in Reducing Rape?

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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