NCJ Number
227910
Journal
Criminal Justice Studies: A Critical Journal of Crime, Law and Society Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2009 Pages: 153-165
Date Published
June 2009
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study examined the impact of sex offender registration and community notification laws on the criminal justice system, specifically on plea bargain agreement rates.
Abstract
The results suggest that the enactment of sex offender registration and community notification did not impact the rate of plea bargain agreements. The results were perhaps more noteworthy for what they did not indicate. That is, registration and community notification laws did not appear to be used as a bargaining tool to dispose of cases more quickly or as a means to avoid the penalties that result from being a convicted (registered) sex offender. Few studies to date have examined how registration and community notification laws have impacted the criminal justice system. This study sought to examine the collateral consequences of registration and community notification laws, specifically, whether or not the enactment of these laws resulted in an increase in plea bargain agreements. The rationale for this study was based on the theory that, as a result of registration and community notification laws, prosecutors had a tool to induce pleas and alleged offenders had a motivation to accept plea bargain agreements. Tables, notes, and references