NCJ Number
247577
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 78 Issue: 1 Dated: June 2014 Pages: 32-37
Date Published
June 2014
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study examined the feasibility of conducting home contacts on Halloween with registered sex offenders.
Abstract
This study utilized data from the Federal District of Kansas to examine the feasibility of conducting home contacts on Halloween with registered sex offenders. The data showed that the total cost of home contacts ($2,358.46) was extremely low compared to the total overall budget for the District, ($7.4 million), and that probation officers routinely conducted home contacts of most offenders on supervision multiple times during the year. Since probation officers conduct multiple visits over the course of the year, conducting home contacts on Halloween can be handled in differing ways, using staff from complementary agencies and organizations to assist in monitoring the offenders. These staff members can help identify triggers for recidivism, as well as condition or law violations that have been perpetrated by the offenders. Feedback from probation officers who conducted the home contacts on Halloween indicated that most officers felt that visits were beneficial and that the public was reassured by the idea that on the night that children were going door to door sex offenders were being monitored and the children were protected. The study found that home contacts with registered sex offenders on Halloween can be beneficial to both the department and the community but that individual agencies need to examine their practices and make decisions based on what is best for their community, their staff, and the offenders under their supervision. Table, appendix, and references