NCJ Number
202847
Date Published
December 2000
Length
37 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effect of the Iowa Sex Offender Registry program on recidivism rates among sex offenders.
Abstract
While sex offender registries are becoming more common place as a means of keeping track of known sex offenders, scant research has measured the impact of such registries on recidivism rates and other pertinent variables. As such, this study compared one group of 233 sex offenders who were required to participate in the Iowa Sex Offender Registry program with another group of 201 sex offenders who met all the requirements of mandatory participation in the registry program but were not required to participate because they offended before the registry law was in effect. Data included criminal rap sheets, out-of-State criminal records, information regarding prison admissions and releases, and information regarding probationers and parolees. Results of statistical analysis reveal that the average time at risk prior to a new offense was similar for both groups of offenders: 1.8 years for the registry sample and 1.7 years for the pre-registry sample. There were no statistically significant differences in recidivism for the two groups: the registry sample had a 24.5 percent overall recidivism rate while the pre-registry sample had a 33.3 percent overall recidivism rate. The authors caution that the follow-up period for the study was relatively short and more study should be undertaken before implementing policy on the basis of recidivism findings. Tables, appendix