U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Law Enforcement Views on Sex Offender Compliance with Registration Mandates

NCJ Number
253438
Journal
American Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 42 Issue: 4 Dated: 2017 Pages: 807-832
Author(s)
Scott M. Walfield; Jill S. Levenson; Michelle A. Cubellis; Andrew J. Harris; Christopher Lobanov-Rostovsky
Date Published
2017
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This exploratory mixed-methods study used data from 101 semi-structured interviews and a nationwide survey (n = 765) to examine law enforcement perspectives on sex offender compliance with registration obligations.
Abstract

Specifically, law enforcement views were explored regarding the definitions and frequency of non-compliance, its underlying reasons or causes, and challenges and practices relating to its detection and management. Findings indicated that defining sex offender non-compliance with registration mandates is no simple task, but underscored the need to differentiate between purposeful and intentional forms of non-compliance and those that are less so. Data also support prior research indicating that few sex offenders truly abscond, and that most non-compliers are easily located. Detection of registration violators occurs through a number of means, and officers rely on community members, fellow law enforcement agents, and supervision partners to help monitor and manage their registrants. Variation exists between and within jurisdictions in terms of definitions, compliance management practices, and enforcement strategies. Translated into the domains of policy and practice, findings suggest that, rather than framing non-compliance under a single umbrella of "failure to register," law enforcement efforts might be enhanced through improved typologies of non-compliance that can help to prioritize the use of enforcement resources. (publisher abstract modified)