Grand Challenges: Social Justice and the Need for Evidence-Based Sex Offender Registry Reform

Authors

Jill S. Levenson, Barry UniversityFollow
Melissa Grady, Catholic UniversityFollow
George Leibowitz, University of VermontFollow

Keywords

Sex offender, policy, grand challenge, registry, registration, social justice

Abstract

Sex offender registries, though popular, bring with them enormous fiscal costs and unintended consequences for offenders and communities. Consistent with the Grand Challenges, social workers can play a role in advocating for sex offender management policies that are better informed by evidence and thus a better use of resources. Registry reform would also moderate the stigma resulting from the sex offender label, and reduce barriers to offender reintegration. First, a brief history of registration laws and the research around their effectiveness will be provided, followed by a rationale for needed improvements in sex offender management policy. Finally, evidence-based recommendations for reform will be offered. Such changes can result in improved public safety outcomes and social justice in our communities.

Recommended Citation

Levenson, Jill S.; Grady, Melissa; and Leibowitz, George (2016) "Grand Challenges: Social Justice and the Need for Evidence-Based Sex Offender Registry Reform," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 43: Iss. 2, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.3816
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol43/iss2/2