Criminal Justice

The State of Louisiana has some of the strictest sexual offender laws on the book, especially regarding registration and notification. Present a two (2) page paper on community notification of sexual offenders and public safety. Do such laws increase public safety? Provide in-text citations and references to be written in APA style.

ANSWER

Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Laws

Do Sexual Offenders Registration and Notification Laws increase Public Safety?

Over the years, lawmakers have consistently implemented policies that seek to protect the public from sex offenders and sex crimes. Also known as recidivism, the tendency to re-offend after incarceration poses a threat to the community and its safety. The University of Michigan Law School estimates that approximately two-thirds of released inmates engage in criminal activities within a year. Accordingly, individuals convicted of sexual offenses have higher chances of engaging in similar sexual crimes after release. This paper discusses whether sex offenders’ registration and notification laws contribute to public safety.

The State of Louisiana suggests that efforts by law enforcement officers to arrest sex offenders are impacted by a lack of information about the offenders. However, releasing information regarding such individuals to the general public helps law enforcement agencies further their safety goals (Louisiana State Police, 2010). Under these laws, sex offenders are required to register their personal information with local authorities. The Megan’s Law, for instance, directs states to introduce systems for disclosing registry information to the public through community notification (Elbogen et al. 2003). As a result, these guidelines encourage the states to utilize the internet and other community tools to avail various details about offenders, including photographs, names, and physical addresses.

An important aspect is that community notifications alert citizens with critical information to protect their children against sexual offenders. Moreover, convicted individuals may feel reluctant to repeat crimes due to public scrutiny. By notifying the community, states increase the chances of apprehension in scenarios where targeted individuals portray suspicious behavior.

A study at the Medical University of South Carolina on the effectiveness of registration and notification policies about sex offenders found that offenders subjected to community notification are less likely to commit the same crime after release (Letourneau et al. 2010). Similar to other studies, the research revealed that individuals convicted in the past have higher chances of committing a similar crime in the future. Given the nature of such crimes, it is essential for law enforcement and the community to collaborate in response to the issue. Compared to incarceration, the proactive measure of tracking former convicts minimizes costs while protecting the public from sexual predators (Prescott & Rockoff, 2011). Thus, the laws prepare the public about threats from sex offenders and discourage suspects from engaging in unlawful activities.

Despite the advantages created by these policies, their effectiveness can be impaired by various factors, including close relationships between sex offenders and victims. In this case, such citizens are less likely to provide relevant information regarding the event. The accompanying shame linked to community notification can be detrimental to the offenders, forcing them to distance themselves from relatives and families. The frequency of public notifications also diminishes their success, as citizens may find it challenging to identify dangerous offenders. The increased use of social media has led to the saturation of information about sex offenders. Thus, many people may find it exhausting to investigate the enormous data generated as a result. However, knowledge about a nearby sexual offender can notify parents to monitor their child closely.

Conclusion

Conclusively, registration and community notification laws are critical in shaping public safety. Based on the analysis, the policies create an opportunity for coordination between the public and law enforcement agencies. Through reporting, the community can help police officers with information about suspicious behaviors by former convicts. Overall, while laws may significantly reduce recidivism, they may harm some offenders with lower chances of committing similar crimes after release.

References

Elbogen, E. B., Patry, M., & Scalora, M. J. (2003). The impact of community notification laws on sex offender treatment attitudes. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 26(2), 207-219.

Letourneau, E. J., Levenson, J. S., Bandyopadhyay, D., Sinha, D., & Armstrong, K. S. (2010). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Sex Offender Registration and Notification Policies for Reducing Sexual Violence Against Women: Final Report for National Institute of Justice. MUSC, Medical University of South Carolina.

Louisiana State Police, (2010). Louisiana Department of Public Safety& Corrections. http://www.lsp.org/socpr/purpose.html

Prescott, J. J., & Rockoff, J. E. (2011). Do sex offender registration and notification laws affect criminal behavior?. The Journal of Law and Economics, 54(1), 161-206.