Sex Offenders: A Case Study
The severe impact on a sex offender family According to Levenson & Tewksbury (2009), states that “Collected 584 family members of registered sex offenders in the United States employment problems, subsequent financial hardships emerged as the most pressing issue identified by the family members” (p. 1). The housing restrictions and living with the sex offender brought about threats and harassment from their neighbors and friends. Many family members experienced fear, anger, depression, anxiety and teasing. It can cause family members to disown the sex offender and it can also cause tension between the family members. It is like they are being punished for their family member’s crime, this kind of labeling and stigmatization can affect
every member of the sex offender’s family. A public perception labeling study of 193 adults in the state of Florida they believe that sex offenders will eventually recidivate and re-offend communities in every state should be aware when they live and work in their communities, this thinking has been perpetuated by the internet and the media. Actually, sex offenders have a low percentage rate of recidivism if you compare it to other types of offenses. It is estimated that sex offender’s recidivism rate is about 15%. The public sees that sex offender’s registry is a means to protecting them. They are most fearful of child sex offenders, these type of fears makes law decisions harsh. Such law decisions breed a false sense of security and increases fear in people, with such labeling in a moral standpoint the community thinks that the recidivism rate for offenders is very high. In study done by the Department of Justice the findings of 9,691 male offenders was conducted after they left from prison. They concluded that the population of released sex offenders were 4 times more likely to get re-arrested again. Sex crimes as opposed to non-sex offenders however, after being out of prison three years 5.3% of offenders were arrested again for new sex crimes. The labeling as policy laws are concerned. Shultz (2014), “The way the United States criminal justice system handles sex offenders is impractical and ineffective (p. 15). Labeling & restrictions where the registry is concerned should be done away with all together. It tends to produce many consequences that do great harm to the sex offender. Alternatives should be GPS tracking which is called Global Positioning System. It monitors the sex offender electronically in the community they live in. The pros are it can alert their supervisor who is assigned to the offender as to his location and if he is in a place that a sex offender should not be. The con is it does not prevent sex crimes.
Conclusion In conclusion, we do realize that sex offenders do need to be punished for their crimes and in order to protect the victim and the community he or she needs to be monitored. However, in judging the sex offender as a whole we have to give them a chance to live, work and be a part of society. As much as we would prefer that they be locked up and the key thrown away that is not a rational thought but an emotional thought. God forgives our sins so who are we not to forgive, this may sound ideal but unless you have had a child who has been molested or a family member that is not the feeling you have. However, the reality is they will get out of prison and if we continue to stigmatize and label them and not integrate them into society we will have more offenders re-offend so instead of being part of the problem we need to find solutions within the criminal justice system, community and states to combat this problem.
every member of the sex offender’s family. A public perception labeling study of 193 adults in the state of Florida they believe that sex offenders will eventually recidivate and re-offend communities in every state should be aware when they live and work in their communities, this thinking has been perpetuated by the internet and the media. Actually, sex offenders have a low percentage rate of recidivism if you compare it to other types of offenses. It is estimated that sex offender’s recidivism rate is about 15%. The public sees that sex offender’s registry is a means to protecting them. They are most fearful of child sex offenders, these type of fears makes law decisions harsh. Such law decisions breed a false sense of security and increases fear in people, with such labeling in a moral standpoint the community thinks that the recidivism rate for offenders is very high. In study done by the Department of Justice the findings of 9,691 male offenders was conducted after they left from prison. They concluded that the population of released sex offenders were 4 times more likely to get re-arrested again. Sex crimes as opposed to non-sex offenders however, after being out of prison three years 5.3% of offenders were arrested again for new sex crimes. The labeling as policy laws are concerned. Shultz (2014), “The way the United States criminal justice system handles sex offenders is impractical and ineffective (p. 15). Labeling & restrictions where the registry is concerned should be done away with all together. It tends to produce many consequences that do great harm to the sex offender. Alternatives should be GPS tracking which is called Global Positioning System. It monitors the sex offender electronically in the community they live in. The pros are it can alert their supervisor who is assigned to the offender as to his location and if he is in a place that a sex offender should not be. The con is it does not prevent sex crimes.
Conclusion In conclusion, we do realize that sex offenders do need to be punished for their crimes and in order to protect the victim and the community he or she needs to be monitored. However, in judging the sex offender as a whole we have to give them a chance to live, work and be a part of society. As much as we would prefer that they be locked up and the key thrown away that is not a rational thought but an emotional thought. God forgives our sins so who are we not to forgive, this may sound ideal but unless you have had a child who has been molested or a family member that is not the feeling you have. However, the reality is they will get out of prison and if we continue to stigmatize and label them and not integrate them into society we will have more offenders re-offend so instead of being part of the problem we need to find solutions within the criminal justice system, community and states to combat this problem.