Member Submission: Post-Conviction Traumatic Stress
The interrogation by police that I received was extreme. It began about 6:30 in the morning when I awakened in bed by a room full of police. I have reason to believe that several had their guns drawn. After dressing, with most of the officers present, I was taken downstairs, where I found a solid wood door had been destroyed by the police when they gained entrance to our home. For more than four hours I was asked hundreds of questions, which I struggled to answer because I had only slept for four hours. There was no food, Not even a drink of water, and I was so frightened that I forgot to go to the bathroom. Afterward my lawyer told me that he had seen this sort of interrogation before—when he was stationed in Afghanistan this was the method used with terrorists.
As a college teacher, I was decimated by the experience. For a year or more I had flashbacks in which the police came barging into my home. I moved to the basement of the house for greater safety, but still I heard noises of what I thought were the police invading my home again. One night I thought I heard the garage door go up and the car being started and driving away. I got up and checked, but the car was still there. I wrote down the many flashbacks and disturbing images I had even when awake at night. This seemed very real.
I was seeing a therapist at the time on a voluntary basis. I described some of what I was experiencing and asked for help. She informed me she didn’t do that kind of therapy. With my doctorate in psychology, and having taught abnormal psychology for several years, I wondered if this was something like post traumatic stress disorder, what some in the military experience once they are home and safe. They will experience the trauma of the battlefield at home, much as they did overseas. This is a problem for those who have been highly traumatized by life-threatening experiences. Could it be that I was having symptoms of PTSD, not because of terrible war experiences, but because of the invasion of my home by police officers.
Then I was placed upon the sex offender registry, and given monitoring devices. I was told to avoid many places that children could theoretically congregate, but also be vigilant in everyday life and avoid being near children. This included taking an alternative aisle in a store if there was a child near the products I needed. I should carefully watch for children when walking down the street, crossing the road and walking on the other side if I saw a child on my side of the street. I must drive on alternate roads to avoid driving by schools. In short, I was taught by my therapist and later by a probation officer to become phobic of children. I thought constantly about this avoidance, which required me to think far more about children than I had before. Did the requirements of the probation officer and my therapist, as well as those of being on the sex offender registry, add to the PTSD symptoms? After more than a year of such symptoms, during which I began vigilant avoidance of children, I concluded I was worse. But we was there anything in the textbooks and research that confirmed this?
In the year 2020 Danielle Harris and Jill Levenson were published in the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology under the subtitle “post-conviction traumatic stress in men convicted of sexual offenses.” I obtained a copy of the research report and found that these researchers had identified experiences much like mine in other registrants. The problems are many for registrants, many of them created by poorly designed laws that have little or no research evidence to support them. The disconnect, the fear, and the stigma by themselves can induce trauma. The authors see these reactions as a disorder that closely approximates PTSD, a new disorder they describe as “post-conviction traumatic stress.” Symptoms include thoughts that intrude, negative thoughts and emotions, avoidance, and hypervigilance (constantly in an anxious state where you are looking for evidence of harm). These symptoms are believed to be related to aspects of every phase of the criminal justice system.
Anxiety and feelings of helplessness begin to characterize the person’s life, making it difficult to connect experiences and emotions. Attempts at adapting to the environment bring unhealthy thinking about the world, others in life, and themselves. Re-experiencing the trauma, avoiding situations that could trigger such reactions, and maladaptive coping can develop (such as addiction and criminal activities). Being accused of a sex crime, arrest, incarceration, and sex offender registration are life-altering events, producing a sense of powerlessness and fear. In short, it can be traumatic.
Harris and Levenson point out that those who are convicted of sex crimes were often mistreated in childhood (I was sexually abused by a neighbor). This disorder is associated with family estrangement, lack of adequate employment, housing changes, isolation, and other sources of significant stress. Social stigma is not only directed to registrants but also to their families. These problems can be traced to the adversarial court system, incarceration, and a correctional system that lacks an understanding of trauma. Incarceration is associated with nightmares and unwanted thoughts, being easy to startle, avoiding crowds, being detached emotionally, and paranoia.
Such stress can influence people to commit additional crimes, as the former inmate experiences social injustice, a sense of helplessness, and sometimes a desire for vengeance. The person is labeled by society, producing shame, isolation, and a sense of hopelessness. Being on the registry, known by many because of its public nature on the Internet, reinforces the identity of deviance and thus encourages future criminal actions. These influences, in turn, make it more difficult to secure basic human needs for self and family, and in turn communicate that whatever achievement is accomplished can quickly be taken away.
In their study of 74 men, incarcerated for sexual offenses, Harris and Levenson discovered a concern for safety from the police, people who would accuse them falsely, vigilantes, and dangers from living on the streets. Many felt socially disconnected, and experienced lack of contact with children, friends, and family. It was difficult to find a job. Many spoke of the loss of opportunities, dreams and hopes for the future.
The researchers found that all four diagnostic categories associated with post traumatic traumatic stress disorder were common: thoughts or mental images that intruded, avoidance of people and situations that produce distress and isolation (due to fear of being wrongly accused), negative beliefs about other people or self, and a sense of constant danger, less interest in activities, constant vigilance; continual scanning for signs of danger, and sleep problems.
Some react by traumatic coping, in which the above characteristics are accentuated and obsessiveness with obeying laws is prominent. Planning for the future is replaced with an emphasis upon the here and now. The authors conclude that this form of coping is ultimately ineffective.
In contrast, resilient coping involves a greater acceptance of their situation, and the motivation to see reform. Those who are better educated are more likely to use this form of coping. But even these men are worried about incidental contact that would mistakenly get them into trouble.
The research concludes that the crucial aspect of trauma in the corrections process calls for changes to the oppressive and disempowering activities of corrections and courts. Treatment must be trauma-informed as well as encourage community adjustment and a more positive identity. They note that faith-based programs, 12 step programs, and trauma-based treatment can encourage needed acceptance and belonging. Levenson proposed the acronym SHARE as central to successful therapy: (1) safety (2) help (3) autonomy (4) respect and (5) empathy
This also applies to spouses (and children) of those on the registry. Just the doorbell ringing, ir a knock at the door, is enough to make me anxious. I worry about the off chance my husband could be around a minor without anyone else present, just because of his being on the registry and stressing about the fact someone would find out and automatically think the worst of him.(or worse accuse him of anything). Over the years I’ve been vigilant about making sure that scenario ever happens. Our 19 year old son has very high distrust of pretty much anyone because of his dad being on the registry.(especially those he’s met online) He worried about his classmates finding out about his dad. We’ve all carried the burden of the registry on our shoulders.
Very true. I’ve seen the distrust and contempt carry down through a couple of generations already. My children are all very successful professionals and business owners. They are teaching their children to never trust government or law enforcement. One of my children is very high up in the education profession. He is influencing many.
One thing I found that helped my family to a huge degree was to block off access to our home. So, there were no knocks at the door or anything like that. And they never spoke to law enforcement ever, and never will. I really think that helps to a huge degree. I also don’t allow law enforcement to contact me just whenever they feel like it. They don’t really try much but different ones have tried occasionally. I never return their phone calls or any “notes” left at my home or business. Personally, I think it is very important to never set any expectation that you will reply. That has worked very well for my family for decades.
I felt every word , as though I was the one who wrote this article…wow!! I have reoccurring dreams of being back in prison. almost nightly. I’m currently employed but I’m in fear that everyday somebody’s going to tell the owner that as long as I work there they won’t shop here. that’s a big fear of mine.
That is understandable.
As a Person Forced to Register (PFR), I exert a lot of effort to use companies that employ PFRs. I tell the management and owners that I do it also. I’ve always had good experiences doing that and they seem to appreciate it.
I also refuse to do business with any people who think the Registries are acceptable. That takes some work and can cause problems, but I feel pretty strongly about it. Any PFR can do it and I think all should. There are millions of PFRs and family members. We CAN make a serious impact, including political. But we have to speak up and act.
I do this all the time while buying products and services. I will get quotes from businesses and right before I’m ready to sign a contract, I will talk to them about how they feel about the Registries. If I don’t like their answer, I tell them and that I’m taking my business elsewhere. People notice that and they obviously understand that since they are aholes that it has seriously cost them. I’ve done that repeatedly with some companies. If they were smarter, they’d stop talking to me, lol. I’m a little surprised they haven’t gone out of business.
I love what you are doing. You definitely put some thoughts into my mind about where I will take my future business. Thanks. 🙂
This is surely an idea worth considering, Will Allen and Daphne.
Most people outside our bubble don’t have much opinion on registries one way or the other. Don’t pressure them to take a position— educate them.
Yes, I’ve wondered about that myself over the years. And when you confront people about their beliefs on a regular basis then you really have an opportunity to consider if you are being “productive” and like the results. I’ve had lots of opportunities to see the results and reactions firsthand and directly. And of course, I’ve adjusted my actions over the years to try to get better results.
I’d love to see a study of what you are talking about. Anecdotally, I’ve found you are right to a large extent, in that people haven’t thought much about it. Which I think is even more of a reason to take any opportunity to discuss it with them and get them to pick a position, good or bad. Frankly, I think most people living in America have some opinions on anything and everything, even if they know nothing about it. I have found that with the Oppression Lists (OLs) as well – they may just be “latent” opinions that they never have really thought about much.
I have found that most people are fine having a discussion about it and don’t feel “pressure” “to take a position”, as you said. Although most business owners and partners do not want to have anything to do with it. But I definitely want to know about them. I have no intention of helping to enrich someone who thinks the OLs are acceptable. I’m not interested in helping them succeed.
It is also important to me to know about people that I might consider to be a friend or to be around my family. I have no interest in having Registry Supporters around us. If a person knows about the OLs and still supports them, you can bet they are an ahole. So I’m definitely going to find out about those people.
It is very important to me. I pay attention and there are other reasons I won’t do business with people. If I walk into a business and see certain flags or signs hanging up, I leave. If I know they take certain positions, I stay away from them.
A lot of people and businesses aren’t interested in thinking about the OLs or caring about their effects. THAT is what has allowed the harassment to exist. Rampant apathy. Few people care unless it affects them. I think we should force people to think about it and at least educate them a little. Then let them choose.
I considered it 20 years ago and have been doing it ever since. I made it my mission to make it very worthwhile for people to be part of my world – as friends, partners, suppliers, customers, whatever. Those people have gotten a lot out of it. Today, I have a lot to give. I help everyone in my world, to a fault. I shun everyone outside of it. If a person, business, or whatever does not actively renounce the Oppression Lists, I renounce them and make that matter. It has real impacts in the real world. I’ll call it “cancel culture”. If you support big government Oppression you get canceled. I was practicing it before it became so popular.
Hate to admit it but jed is 100% correct. Now try doing this for 15 years.
An additional point, ptsd is “post” what we all go through is never going to be post but
“current”.
Our therapy is never ending. I have been a registrant for 21 years and I still wake up in the middle of the night hearing pounding at my door. My therapist for 2 years also a Navy Champlain never approached the subject of PTSD. We have little or no support groups in our community to deal with high stress levels. One Christmas I was ordered to remove my outdoor lights because they would attract children. We are consistently bombarded with crazy theories about our crimes made up by overly zealous politicians trying to make a name for themselves. The good news, your not alone.. trust me. Your testimonial is inspiring and needs to be published. PTSD was decades ago once known as Battle Fatigue and we have a long hard fight ahead of us to ease restrictions for non violent sexual crimes.
JEV -True Confessions
I’d like to see statistical evidence that Christmas lights attract children. Are they like mosquitoes now? Absurd!
I rather see I.Q. tests of the people who think Christmas lights make any difference to public safety or protecting children. That would be entertaining. Registry Supporters/Terrorists are not a bright bunch.
LOL!!!!
FAC Member Submissions are always good. Especially this one.
Nothing new here. Didn’t see anything out of the norm. Sounds like an average everyday warrant serving, conviction and punishment. Same as we all go through…Some have worse after effects than others, it seems.