Analysis of the Effectiveness of Community Notification and Registration: Do the Best Intentions Predict the Best Practices?

• NCJ Number: 232041
• Journal: Justice Quarterly Volume: 27 Issue: 5 Dated: October 2010 Pages: 667-691
• Author(s): Kristen Zgoba; Bonita M. Veysey; Melissa Dalessandro
• Date Published: October 2010
• Length: 25 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2006-IJ-CX-0018
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Award: Megan''s Law: An Empirical Analysis

Annotation

This research measures group differences in recidivism before and after implementation of Megan's Law.

Abstract

The pre-post study consists of a total of 550 male sex offenders released during the years 1990 and 2000, of which 250 offenders were released during 1990 and 1994 (i.e., the pre-Megan's Law group) and 300 offenders were released between 1995 and 2000 (i.e., the post-Megan's Law group). Offenders were released from a general population setting and a sex offender specific treatment facility. The main variables of concern include: (1) recidivism levels, (2) days to first re-arrest, and (3) level of harm (i.e., number of sex offenses, violent offenses, and number of child victims). Statistical findings from chi-square and survival analysis testing indicate significant group differences on levels of general recidivism; however, no significant differences were identified on measures of sex offense recidivism. Implications of these findings on sex offender specific policies are discussed. Tables, figures, and references (Published Abstract)