| This dissertation examines the effect of sexual offender notification on the adoption of protective behaviors by community members. One thousand Minneapolis residents across 20 neighborhoods were surveyed about their experiences with sexual offender notification, their fear of crime, perceived risk for victimization, and personal safety habits. Data was generated from a 54-question survey that was adapted from Beck and Travis's version of Ferraro's "Fear of Crime in America Survey."; Multivariate research analyses on the impact of sexual offender notification on community members (n = 407) suggests that residents who receive notification do not undertake more protective behaviors to mitigate their risk of sexual victimization, nor do they report higher levels of fear of crime than non-notified residents. Notified residents do, however, report less perceived risk for victimization, for both themselves and other household members (both children and adults) than do non-notified residents. Parents who receive sexual offender notification report undertaking more protective behaviors on behalf of their children than non-notified parents. |
