NCJ Number
156580
Date Published
1991
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Both juvenile and adult sex offenders have been required to register in Washington State since the Community Protection Act was passed in February 1990; this study examines application of the law to juvenile sex offenders.
Abstract
Issues examined are implementation efforts to date, compliance rates, types of sentences, and selected demographic characteristics of juveniles required to register. Findings show that juvenile sex offenders who were released or newly adjudicated have registered at a higher rate (70 percent) than adult sex offenders who were released or sentenced after the law (60 percent). Compliance for juveniles under State authority was higher (83 percent) than for juveniles under county authority compared to 50 percent compliance. Of the juveniles under State authority, one-fourth (33) were adjudicated for Class A sex felonies and will be required to register for life. Three-fourths (96) were adjudicated for Class B felonies and will be required to register for 15 years following release. The average age upon release of juvenile sex offenders under State authority was 17 and ranged from 12 to 21 years; nearly all were male. The registration requirement for juvenile sex offenders is basically the same as for adults, but decisionmaking regarding notification of release is different for juveniles. Whereas the End of Sentence Review Committee reviews all adult sex offenders released under the authority of the Department of Corrections, this committee reviews juvenile sex offenders only if they meet the statutory criteria of a sexually violent predator as defined in the civil commitment law. 3 figures and an appended chart that shows how the offender is tracked under the registration law.