NCJ Number
186378
Journal
International Journal of the Sociology of Law Volume: 28 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2000 Pages: 45-68
Editor(s)
John Carrier,
Stephen Savage
Date Published
2000
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This paper focuses on rules governing the prevention of re-offending by convicted child sexual abusers in the United Kingdom.
Abstract
The authors believe only two rule sets have been given previous attention, legal rules as embodied in Sexual Offenders Registers and professional rules regarding risk avoidance in the community. Legal rules operate primarily through sanctions and surveillance, while professional rules rely on more positive practices. However, a third set of rules exists that is referred to as communal rules. The communal rule set, along with legal and professional rules, contributes toward the larger prevention mosaic. Ultimately, for many sex offenders, non-offending may be due more to communal pressure from partners, families, and the local community than to legal and professional rules. Legal and professional rules are sometimes arbitrary and vindictive and may be negative in consequences. In addition, legal and professional rules rely more on coercive practices than on social bonding. Using a life history approach, the authors draw attention to the need for more research on communal and community dynamics of ex-offenders, monitoring processes involved in these relationships, and the prevention of re-offending. 18 references