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Abstract: 

Inaccurate assumptions about the reoffense rates of sexual offenders have strongly influenced recent legislation relating to sex offender registration and residence restrictions at both local and national levels. However, various entities researching sex offender recidivism have provided information indicating sex offenders are reconvicted at lower rates than other offender groups, bringing the issue of sex offender recidivism into more accurate focus. Yet, while a more accurate understanding of sexual offender recidivism appears to be emerging from the research literature, inconsistencies between the states regarding the tracking and reporting of this data clearly exist. In this connection, the purpose of this article is to advocate for a unified and standard approach to examining sex offender recidivism rates reported by state agencies across the United States.

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Affiliations:  1: Indiana Sex Offender Management and Monitoring Program; 2: Indiana Sex Offender Management and Monitoring Program; 3: Indiana Department of Correction.