‘Nobody worries about our children’: unseen impacts of sex offender registration on families with school-age children and implications for desistance
The current paper presents findings from a qualitative study using
a web-based survey (n = 58) and open-ended interviews (n = 19)
to investigate the impact of sex offender law and policies on family
members of convicted sex offenders. Specifically, this paper discusses
the impact sex offender policies and ‘extra-legal’ restrictions made
by employers and landlords on housing and income stability, as well
as impacts on family dynamics: a far less examined consequence of
sex offender laws. Participants described how their children missed
out on family bonding activities due to restrictions placed on their
registrant parent, such as having their father attend school events,
taking their children trick-or-treating, and going on family vacations.
Responses indicated that policies intended to protect children and
families are in reality tearing these family members’ lives apart. As a
result, registrants and their families experienced social rejection and
isolation, both of which are obstacles in the process of desistance from
offending behavior and successful reintegration. Experiences of these
family members shed light on the unintended punitive consequences
of current sex offender policy and the critical need for reform.
I’ll never forget when a county commissioner publicly admitted that he knew this but justified it:
“That’s how public policy works,” the commissioner explained, responding to a statement from FAC’s Media Chair. “Some families have to suffer for the greater good of a larger number of families.”
The commissioner’s proposed exclusion zones then passed 5-0.
It’s never been about protecting children. It’s about the political posturing representing the illusion of protecting children.
“Nobody” includes residents who don’t take the time to see why we are on the registry, the majority of law enforcement, probation officers if your on probation etc… the hear or see the word sex offender they shut down and assume the worse right away
Look at some of the stuff DCF has tried to do like say a parent who is on the registry should not be allowed to live with they’re minor children and you see its nothing to do with the welfare of the child only what they can say they did in the guise of protecting the public its all smoke ,mirrors and bs. All for the money and attention for pats on the backs from other idiots that are to blind to see the truth.