STUDY: Life on “the List” is a Life Lived in Fear: Post-Conviction Traumatic Stress in Men Convicted of Sexual Offenses
A new Study by Danielle Arlanda Harris and Jill Levenson finds that our current practices likely and paradoxically increase risk for reoffending by producing traumatic stress that leads to emotional dysregulation.
In recent years, there has been a rapid expansion of increasingly restrictive laws managing the post release behavior and movement of individuals convicted of sexual offenses. In the US, this legislation has led to many barriers for people returning to their community as “registered sex offenders.” We consider the often ignored but undeniable traumagenic impact of life on “the list” and conceptualize this experience as Post-Conviction Traumatic Stress. We present a qualitative content analysis of secondary data collected from interviews with over 70 men. Emergent themes were first organized according to the human needs identified in Maslow’s hierarchy, and then by the established symptoms of PTSD, and finally in terms of resilient coping versus traumatic coping when basic human needs were unmet. We discuss the unexplored impact of traumatic instability on risk for recidivism and present recommendations for trauma-informed policies and practices with individuals required to register as “sex offenders.”
Maybe it’s just me, but these kinds of papers can be published all day long and they won’t make a beans worth of difference because it doesn’t challenge the laws written, just the impacts of those defined by these laws.
It just kinda bums me out papers like this don’t carry more weight.
My friends and I (We are all citizens forced to register) talk about this all the time.
It’s like living life walking on eggshells all the time!!
WE DID OUR TIME! NOW LEAVE US, THE HELL, ALONE!!!
Thank you all for your scholarly research!
I re-found my strength by returning to the faith of my youth. Knowing that my future and eternity is secured by the forgiveness of God gives me strength to withstand the pressures that man would try to bring on us. I am well received in my community and several come to me for advice on a variety of subjects. It is through pressure that we become strong if we let God do His work in our lives. Throughout history it is those who have survived life’s struggles who have gone on the be great leaders. I am reminded through my morning devotions: “Live such good lives among the pagans (those who do not believe in God or His guiding principles of forgiveness) that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.” (1 Peter 2:12). My faith has and does sustain me quite well.
Capt. Munsey, I wholeheartedly agree!
Sent to NPR:
The above story re Sx Offender Registries plus its companion piece did not take into account the current research and many peer reviewed articles on the efficacy of the Registries.
1- The registers are so big, that they can no longer be used to “track” persons who are required to Register. Some years ago, the city of Minneapolis “lost” over 500 registrants.
2- The recidivism of individuals required to register is around 3%-5% , ie most individuals do not re-offend. The registries were originally justified on the now rejected and debunked belief that recidivism was greater than 50-60% and was a permanent condition.
3- The Registries do not differentiate between pedophiles, predators and individuals whose only crime was non-violent, nor did it involve contact with a child. Example an 18 yo having sex with a 16 yo girl friend, a streaker is considered the same as a violent rapist.
4- Most individuals arrested for [first time] Sx Crimes are not on the registers, so they do not “protect” the public.
5- Most cases of child molestation occur, not in public, but in the home of the victim
6- The offenders in #5 are already known to the family. Stranger Danger is greatly exaggerated.
7- Subject individuals required to register to potential vigilante justice – individuals have died simply because they were on the register
8- Affect the family of the person required to register.
9- Research has shown they are counter-productive, placing obstacles for re-integration in society
10- The state of MI has declared that the MI Register is ex post facto punishment, thus unconstitutional. The state of MI does not currently have a SO Registry that passes muster from a legal standpoint. Indeed the MI AG is against the state Registry. TN has followed suit.
11- Many state registries do not allow for any means to be removed from the registry, so what may be a misdemeanor offense may easily end up a lifetime on the registry.
I could go on, but I believe I made my point. I can document and cite sources for my claims and would gladly do so. I would encourage NPR to seek alternate viewpoints on the efficacy of the registers. This article does not meet the high standards for objective reporting i have come to expect from NPR.
Please contact the various organization in the US that are opposed to the registries simply because the they don’t work. Among them the National Assoc for Rational Sex Offender Laws [narsol.org], Florida Action Committee [https://floridaactioncommittee.org/contact-us/], Texas Voices for Reason and Justice [info@texasvoices.org]
Regards
J A Herrera
Jesse
Your points here are well taken, although ,what do you mean that single offenders are not on the registry?point #4.
The article was well researched for its purpose which was a study of the psychological effects of the registry. It has nothing to do with legal or law , so will be of minimal benefit in a court. Unless your trying to appeal to the compassionate side of someone.
The writers of the article worked very hard on it and deserves credit for making there point. Thank You ladies!
My mistake, meant to say people arrested for the first time for a sex crime are not on the registry. so if individuals are seeking safety by reading or looking at the registry, the registry will not contribute to safety or protect you in any way.