| In response to highly sensationalized sex crimes against children creating a moral panic in the public, several legislative motions were passed to track and monitor sexual offenders with the intent of providing community protection and reducing sex offender recidivism. However, research indicates that sex offender registration and notification laws do not have a significant effect on recidivism and, in fact, have created unintended negative consequences for sex offenders attempting to reintegrate into society. This dissertation research included an examination of employment as a barrier to successful community reintegration by analyzing the perceptions, beliefs, and opinions held by employers in Maricopa County, Arizona regarding registered sex offenders. Additionally, this study explored the foundation of these perceptions and aimed to understand how these perceptions and opinions about registered sex offenders influence hiring decisions specific to qualified applicants who disclose a prior sex offense conviction. Using a qualitative case study, employers throughout Maricopa County, Arizona, were contacted regarding their perceptions about registered sex offenders. With a total sample size of 17, 12 completed survey's suggested employers would not hire a qualified applicant if they disclosed a sex offense conviction because of concerns regarding the safety of others. Contradictory, data collected from the Maricopa County Adult Probation Community Supervision Deputy Chief indicated a majority of convicted sex offenders in the county are employed. |
