Sex Offenders

Broadcasts, Videos, and Webinars

An Overview of Sex Offender Reentry: Building a Foundation for Professionals (2014)

This webinar is the first in a series designed for professionals working to prepare individuals convicted of a sexual offense to return to the community. The webinar presents criminal justice professionals and practitioners with an overview of statistics and understandings about the sex offender population, the barriers and challenges to reentry faced by this population, and a framework for professionals responsible for assisting sex offenders with transitioning back into the community.

Sex Offender Management Webinar Series (2014)

This webinar series was designed to provide policymakers and practitioners with trustworthy, up-to-date information they can use to identify and implement what works to combat sexual offending and prevent sexual victimization.

Female Sex Offenders

Female Sex Offenders (2007)

This policy and practice brief synthesizes the research and other professional literature about women and adolescent girls who commit sex offenses.

An Ecological Process Model of Female Sex Offending (2014)

The present study qualitatively examined female sex offenders’ offense-related experiences and characterized the internal and external factors that contributed to offending.

Static Risk Factors Predict Sexual Misconduct among Incarcerated Female Sexual Offenders (2014)

This study evaluated if there was an association between static risk factors [as delineated by the Static-99 and Rapid Risk Assessment for Sex Offender Recidivism (RRASOR)] and institutional sexual misconduct for incarcerated female sexual offenders.

An Incident-Based Comparison of Female and Male Sexual Offenders (2015)

Improving on these limitations, we use the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) to compare male and female sex offenders among all 802,150 incidents of sexual assault reported to police across 37 states between 1991 and 2011.

Female Offenders in Child Sexual Abuse Cases: A National Picture (2015)

This article features an examination of virtually every substantiated child sexual abuse case reported to child protective services in the United States for 2010. Findings detail observed differences between male and female offenders on multiple domains and affirm female sexual offenders to be distinctly different from their male counterparts

General

Best Practices in the Assessment, Treatment, and Risk Management of Persons Who Have Sexually Offended

The assessment, treatment, and risk management of persons who have sexually offended is of considerable interest to a wide variety of stakeholder groups, including legislators and policymakers, court and law enforcement personnel, corrections and community supervision staff, mental health clinicians, victim advocates, and the community-at-large, among others. Many of these stakeholders have expressed concerns regarding the potential for sexual recidivism and other harms posed by offenders released to the community. As a consequence, most jurisdictions have enacted legislative frameworks to manage those risks.

The past 40 years have been witness to significant growth in our understanding of the dynamics of sexual offending, the people who engage in these behaviors and how best to assess their risk for reoffending, and what treatment and supervision interventions are most likely to result in success. In this context, success may be defined as: (1) greater community safety, and (2) safe and humane reintegration opportunities for offenders returning to the community.

This report is intended to provide a comprehensive review of best practices in the assessment, treatment, and risk management of persons who have sexually offended.

Released Sex Offenders Were Three Times As Likely As Other Released Prisoners To Be Re-Arrested For A Sex Offense (2019)

State prisoners released after serving time for rape or sexual assault were more than three times as likely as other released prisoners to be re-arrested for rape or sexual assault during the 9 years following their release, the Bureau of Justice Statistics announced today. Released sex offenders represented 5% of prisoners released in 2005 and 16% of post-release arrests for rape or sexual assault during the 9-year follow-up period.

The BJS study tracked a representative sample of prisoners released in 2005 in the 30 states that were responsible for 77% of all state prisoners released nationwide and examined their arrests through 2014. An estimated 7.7% of released sex offenders were arrested for rape or sexual assault during the 9-year follow up period, versus 2.3% of other released prisoners.

Profile of Sex Offenders in Ohio Prisons (2015)

This report covers key statistics and current programming for sex offenders in Ohio.

Sex Offender Management Board Annual Legislative Report (2015)

This legislative report presents findings from an examination by the Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) in the state of Colorado of best practices for the treatment and management of adult sex offenders and juveniles who have committed sexual offenses.

High Risk Sex Offenders May Not Be High Risk Forever (2014)

This study examined the extent to which sexual offenders present an enduring risk for sexual recidivism over a 20-year follow-up period.

Years of Predicting Dangerously (2013)

The author looks at recent empirical evidence for clinical adjustments to actuarial-based risk prediction for sexually violent predators (SVPs).

Child Sex Offender Demographics (2014)

Chapter 4 in Advances in Forensic Human Identification.
This chapter reviews the information currently available for offender demographics, with a view to aiding our ability to identify and manage high-risk offenders.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization — National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (2014)

This report examines sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence victimization using data from 2011. The report describes the overall prevalence of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence victimization; racial/ethnic variation in prevalence; how types of perpetrators vary by violence type; and the age at which victimization typically begins. For intimate partner violence, the report also examines a range of negative impacts experienced as a result of victimization, including the need for services.

Sex Offender Management Assessment and Planning Initiative (SOMAPI)

Recognizing the important role scientific evidence plays, the SMART Office developed the Sex Offender Management Assessment and Planning Initiative (SOMAPI), a project designed to assess the state of research and practice in sex offender management.

In The News

Polygraph Therapy Faces Scrutiny in Child Porn Case (2017)

After a critical hearing in New York, a spotlight is taking shape on the utility of “therapeutic polygraphs,” a treatment the U.S. probation system has used for decades on sex offenders.

Juveniles

An examination of juvenile sex offenders in the Illinois juvenile justice system (2017)

Juveniles adjudicated delinquent for a sex offense can result in lifelong consequences, including sex offender registration. Further, there can be repercussions financially, emotionally, and socially for a juvenile and his/her family that extend throughout the individual’s life. Given the potential negative impact of sex offender registration, it is important to understand the implications of the registry within the larger context of youth development and juvenile justice. This report analyzes characteristics of youth arrested, detained, and admitted to corrections in Illinois in 2014 and associated trends from 2004 to 2014.

SMART: Chapter 5 Effectiveness of Treatment for Juveniles Who Sexually Offend

This review examined the recent evidence on the effectiveness of treatment for juveniles who commit sexual offenses.

A Snapshot of Juvenile Sex Offender Registration and Notification Laws: A Survey of the United States (2011)

This publication is divided into seven parts: introduction; the Adam Walsh Act'Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA); individual state registration and notification requirements applied to children; comprehensive chart of SORNA applied to children in the states; individual fact sheets on SORNA applied to children; and Directory of State Sex Offender Registration Administrators.

Using Evidence-Based Interventions with Youth Who Have Committed Sexual Offenses (2014)

With Models for Change support, the DuPage County juvenile court has taken steps to strengthen its responses to sexual offending by youth and, along the way, learned valuable lessons from which other jurisdictions can benefit.

Youth Who Commit Sex Offenses: Research Update (2014)

Sections explain: youth who commit sex offenses are still young people in development; most youth who commit sex offenses will never recidivate—the recidivism rate is 4%; youth who commit sex offense are not a special group; and youth who commit sex offenses respond well to treatment.

Perils of Registering Youth Who Commit Sex Offenses: Research Update (2014)

Sections explain: registration and notification offer no clear public safety benefits; creating and maintaining registries is expensive; and registration harms youth and their families—registration causes psychological harm, prevents youth from participating in school and work, negatively impacts the families of youth who offend, and places youth at risk of victimization.

Reentry

Monitoring High-Risk Sex Offenders With GPS Technology: An Evaluation of the California Supervision Program, Final Report (2012)

The effectiveness of a global positioning system (GPS) to monitor high-risk sex offenders (HRSOs) released under parole is examined. This document provides other agencies with information that may lead to a similar strategy for monitoring HRSOs. Sections of this report include: background; methodology; results for baseline characteristics, supervision, outcome analysis, and cost analysis; process evaluation'overview, data sources, program fidelity, GPS monitoring, and summary; and discussion'summary, policy implications, limitations, and next steps.

Residency Restrictions

Sex Offender Residency Restriction Zones (2015)

An infographic of sex offender residency restriction zones.

Sex Offender Registration

50-State Survey of Relief from Sex Offender Registration (2015)

This page highlights a 50-state chart which details the registration obligations that sex offender must meet in each state and under federal law.

Sex Offender Registration and Notification in the United States: Current Case Law and Issues (2015)

This report gives an overview of sex offender registration and notification systems have been established within the United States.

SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION ACT: Survey of States and Territories on Implementation of the Act (GAO-13-234SP, February 2013), an E-supplement to GAO-13-211 (2013)

The purpose of this e-supplement is to provide information from GAO's Web-based survey of state sex offender registration and notification offices about their efforts to implement the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), challenges associated with doing so, and perspectives on the effects of the law in their jurisdictions.

SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION ACT: Jurisdictions Face Challenges to Implementing the Act, and Stakeholders Report Positive and Negative Effects (2013)

This report addresses: (1) To what extent has the SMART Office determined that jurisdictions have substantially implemented SORNA, and what challenges, if any, have jurisdictions faced? (2) For jurisdictions that have substantially implemented SORNA, what are the reported effects that the act has had on public safety, criminal justice stakeholders, and registered sex offenders?

SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION ACT: Jurisdictions Face Challenges to Implementing the Act, and Stakeholders Report Positive and Negative Effects (2013)

This report addresses: (1) To what extent has the SMART Office determined that jurisdictions have substantially implemented SORNA, and what challenges, if any, have jurisdictions faced? (2) For jurisdictions that have substantially implemented SORNA, what are the reported effects that the act has had on public safety, criminal justice stakeholders, and registered sex offenders?

Treatment

Applying the Risk Principle to Sex Offenders: Can Treatment Make Some Sex Offenders Worse? (2009)

This article explores the effects of different levels of treatment intensity on 238 sexual offenders who are on parole.

Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Sexual Offending (CBI-SO)

The University of Cincinnati (UCCI) Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Sexual Offending (CBI-SO) is a structured curriculum intended for individuals who are moderate to high need in the area of sexual offending. This curriculum can be delivered as a stand-alone intervention or incorporated into larger programs, particularly those designed for clients in the correctional system. As the name of the curriculum suggests, this intervention relies on a cognitive-behavioral approach to teach participants strategies for avoiding sexual offending and related behaviors. Specifically, the program emphasizes skill-building activities to assist with cognitive, social, emotional, and coping skills development. The goal is to increase the value participants place on pro-social thoughts and choices. This curriculum was developed in partnership with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and Volunteers of America.

What Works in Reentry Clearinghouse: Sex Offender Treatment

To help practitioners, program administrators, and policymakers identify research-supported programs and interventions, the Clearinghouse provides an overview and discussion on the key findings from a review of high quality evaluations on sex offender treatment programs.

A Program Evaluation of In-Prison Components The Colorado Department of Corrections Sex Offender Treatment and Monitoring Program (2013)

This evaluation reviews the operation of the Colorado Department of Corrections Sex Offender Treatment and Management Program (SOTMP) against best practice standards based on the empirically-derived Risk, Need, Responsivity model for correctional programming.

SOTIPS: Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (2013)

The Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS) is a statistically-derived dynamic measure designed to aid clinicians, correctional caseworkers, and probation and parole officers in assessing risk, treatment and supervision needs, and progress among adult males who have been convicted of one or more qualifying sexual offenses and committed at least one of these sexual offenses after their 18th birthday ' SOTIPS item scores are intended to reflect an individual's relative treatment and supervision needs on each risk factor. The SOTIPS total score is intended to provide an estimation of an individual's overall level of dynamic risk and need for supervision and treatment' (p. 1). Sections of this manual include: overview and administration; item descriptions and scoring criteria; and the SOTIPS scoring sheet.

Violence Against Women: Effective Interventions and Practices with Perpetrators (2014)

The key focus of the report is on reviewing evidence about reducing re-offending in crimes of violence against women. The research evidence available provides a number of valuable insights into what works to reduce reoffending in the area of violence against women.

The Effectiveness of Treatment for Adult Sexual Offenders (2015)

This review examined the evidence on treatment effectiveness from both individual studies and synthesis research.

Victim Advocates

Promoting Collaboration Between Victim Advocates and Sex Offender Management Professionals: A Resource Package (2016)

Sexual violence results from a complex interaction of individual, relationship, community, and societal factors. Multiple interventions are required to address these factors not only before, but also after sexual violence occurs as identified in the Social-Ecological Model for Prevention. Intervening with individuals who have committed sexual violence is an important part of this comprehensive sexual violence prevention framework.