Examining sex offenders' perspectives on registration and community notification policies

The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of adjudicated sex offenders on the effect of registration and community notification laws on their opportunities and lifestyles. The quantitative correlational research was conducted with the goal of understanding how various background factors, sex offenders' perspective, notification level, and sex offender lifestyle changes would impact adjudicated sex offenders' perspectives on registration and community notification policies. A literature review revealed that researchers have devoted resources to understand community perspectives on the adjudicated sex offenders living in their neighborhoods; however, sex offenders' perspectives are conspicuous by its absence. A mail-in survey was administered to randomized adjudicated sex offenders in Riverside County, California. A total of 104 participants completed the survey. The results indicated there were significant relationships between age, education, and employment and the dependent variable perceived opportunities. There were differences in the dependent variable perceived opportunities based on ethnicity and marital status. There were significant relationships between education, employment, level of notification, and marital status, and the dependent variable lifestyle changes. Finally, there were significant relationships between age, level of notification, ethnicity, and marital status, and the dependent variable hostility. Comments by study participants supported the need for changes in the notification laws.