Boundaries of Law: Jurisdictional differences affecting sex offender residential patterns in the Cincinnati Tri-State Regio

Recent controversies over the nature of sex offender residency restrictions have inspired multiple studies examining the effects of such laws on sex offender recidivism and where these convicted offenders choose to live. Discussions regarding neighborhood stability and its relationship with where convicted sex offenders are permitted to live are rich and detailed, providing evidence that such restrictions do not serve their intended purpose. The surge in such restrictive ordinances has created something of a "domino effect" among neighboring political jurisdictions, all attempting to prevent these offenders restricted from one location from moving into their own. Despite the potential questions arising from such edge areas, little research has been performed analyzing the effects of differing laws on sex offender residency patterns through a multi-jurisdictional region. This study is one such attempt to analyze how varying restrictive ordinances between three states and counties in the Greater Cincinnati area affect the spatial distribution of sex offender residencies.;Key words: Sex offenders, Boundaries, Restrictions, GIS, Crime Analysis, Cincinnati.