An Evaluation of the Impact of Locus of Control on Public Perceptions and Support of Policies that Govern Sexual Offenders

This study analyzed the impact of locus of control and fear of crime on attitudes and perceptions of the sex offender registry policies. The US sample of 206 participants represented different geographic regions, religious perspectives, socioeconomic status levels, and levels of education well, but the vast majority (86.4%) of respondents identified as white/Caucasian. Respondents completed an online survey including Rotter's Locus of Control Scale (Rotter, 1966), the Fear of Crime Scale (Williams, McShane, & Akers, 2000), and the Attitudes and Perceptions of the Sex Offender Registry Policies measure (Levenson & Cotter, 2005), among supplemental and demographic questions. Overall, the results indicated that respondents often were unaware of the policies that take place in their communities and that they tend to overestimate the frequency of the sexual offenses compared to known base rates. Female participants reported greater fear of crime, taking more general precautions against crime, and having a greater belief in the negative consequences associated with the sex offender registry policies. Older individuals reported taking greater precautions when traveling, and younger individuals reported greater fear of crime both during the day and at night. Individuals with masters or doctoral degrees reported a reduced belief that the policies are helpful in reducing offending. Unexpectedly, an external locus of control did not predict greater fear of crime or more strict attitudes toward policies governing sexual offenders. Instead, individuals with a more internal locus of control were more likely to agree that residency restrictions and the public reporting of sexual offender personal information were fair and that such policies are effective at preventing re-offense. Curiously, respondents who reported sharing the same values as their neighbors (community cohesion) also were more likely to say such policies were fair and effective. The relationship between locus of control and community cohesion is not well understood and bears further investigation. Differing views of the utility and efficacy of the sex offender registry policies, including concerns that they may be counter-productive, make understanding the factors that influence public support of these policies particularly timely and relevant to investigate.