Category: Sex Offender

Introduction

The Center for Sex Offender Management (“CSOM: The Comprehensive Assessment Protocol: A System-wide Review of Adult and Juvenile Sex Offender Management Strategies.” par. 1) reports that sexual abuse is still a major problem across the United States. The current classification system for sex offenses has its basis in theories that focus on what the sex offenders specialize in and their physical and psychological traits (Simons par. 2). According to Simons (par. 3), the typical sex offender typologies include child sexual abusers, female sex offenders, male sex offenders, internet sex offenders, and rapists. Child sexual abuse involves the use of coercion or force of a sexual nature, with minors being the target. Child sexual abuse occurs if the victim is less than 13 years old and the age difference between the victim and the offender is at least five years (Campbell 58). Additionally, an offense becomes a child sexual abuse if the age difference between the offender and the victim is at least ten years, and the victim’s age is between thirteen and sixteen years.

Main body

Some differences exist between child sexual abusers and rapists. The main difference is in the perpetrators’ thought process and affect. Child sexual abusers usually have feelings of inadequacy and tend to be lonely. Additionally, they are often passive in relationships. Apart from that, their social skills are poor, and they exhibit cognitive distortions. On the other hand, rapists have a distorted opinion of the other gender as well as their sex roles. Rapists are driven to commit sexual offenses by hostility, anger, and vindictiveness while child sexual abusers are driven by loneliness, anxiety, and depression (Hanser and Mire 307).

The Center for Sex Offender Management (“CSOM: The Comprehensive Assessment Protocol: A System-wide Review of Adult and Juvenile Sex Offender Management Strategies.” par. 4) mentions three types of sex offenders. They are juvenile sex offenders, adult sex offenders, and female sex offenders. Juvenile sex offenders are minors who sexually abuse other children while adult sex offenders are adults who commit sexual offenses. Reports indicate that women commit about 20% of sex crimes against children. Additionally, their rate of sexual victimization is twice that of male offenders. Another difference between male and female sexual offenders is that female offender are more likely to target men and strangers than male offenders (Gannon and Cortona 44). Apart from that, Female sexual abusers are less likely to re-offend than male abusers. However, both types of offenders are likely to have an experience of abuse while young. Both male and female offenders also tend to have low self-esteem and a sense of attachment. Most of the offenders in both groups usually isolate themselves from other members of society.

Conclusion

There are legal and social challenges related to the treatment of the different types of sex offenders. Olver and Wong (328) point out that those offenders with psychopathic traits are harder to treat than non-psychopathic sexual offenders. The legal system usually labels sex offenders “guilty except for insanity.” The thought of living with this tag makes most victims afraid of being a target for harassment and other abuses by society. This fear that comes about as a result of being labeled a sex offender usually derails the treatment process. One challenge related to the treatment of male sex offenders is that they do not decide to enroll in the programs by themselves. Since they do not enter into the treatment programs out of their conviction, the chances of the treatment being successful are reduced. The main challenge concerning treating female offenders is the predetermination of the treatment procedures. The predetermination of treatment procedures is a challenge because the treatment often fails to take into consideration the needs and risks factors that are unique to women offenders.

Works Cited

Campbell, Terence W. Assessing Sex Offenders. Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas, 2007. Print.

CSOM. The Comprehensive Assessment Protocol: A System-wide Review of Adult and Juvenile Sex Offender Management Strategies 2015. Web.

Gannon, Theresa A, and Franca, Cortoni. Female Sexual Offenders. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2010. Print.

Hanser, Robert D, and Scott, Mire. Correctional Counseling. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education/Prentice Hall, 2011. Print.

Olver, Mark E, and Stephen C. P. Wong. “Therapeutic Responses of Psychopathic Sexual Offenders: Treatment Attrition, Therapeutic Change, and Long-Term Recidivism.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 77.2 (2009): 328-336. NCBI. Web. 2015.

Simons, Dominique A. Chapter 3: Sex Offender Typologies. 2015. Web.

Abstract

The infiltration of pornographic materials in the society has increased the number of sexual offences due to their perverted influence. Many people consume pornography in order to get the sexual gratification that they crave for. The psychological impact of pornography can not be ignored if the fight against sexual violence is to be won (Beech, 2009).

Pornography glorifies indecent sexual acts to an extent where those who consume it see the acts as being normal. According to research findings, some of the sexual offences that occur in marriage are in most cases influenced by pornography (Howitt, 2009).

It is difficult to completely understand the profile of sex offenders but the available assumptions can at least help potential victims to put protective measures in place (Marshall, 2002). Pornography will continue to affect the society in a negative way if proper laws are not enacted to control its continued infiltration.

Pornography: The Architect of Sexual Offenders

The need for sexual gratification has led to an increase in pornographic materials in the society. Any kind of sexual subject matter that is portrayed explicitly amounts to pornography (Beech, 2009). Since pornography is specifically meant to bring sexual gratification, it is important to note that it may end up having negative psychological effects on the consumer.

The drive and push to practice what is seen or read from the pornographic media can make a person to end up committing sexual offences. Pornography can be portrayed in different forms of media that include videos, magazines, books, paintings, still photographs and even sound recordings (Eason, 2013).

The pornographic influence comes from the depiction of a sexual act using a particular media and not from live sexual exhibitions. This paper will highlight how pornography influences sex offenders. Pornography has emerged as an architect of sexual offenders in the modern society.

It is important to first of all understand the definition of a sexual offence before looking at the influence of pornography on sexual offences from a psychological point of view (Easton, 2013). The increase in the number of sexual crimes or offences is attributed to the ever growing pornographic industry. The concept of a sexual offence is very wide and can be interpreted in different ways.

Engaging in a sexual act with an unwilling person amounts to a sexual offence that is referred to as rape (Howitt, 2009). In most countries around the world, suggestive behavior is also categorized as a sexual offence. Suggestive behavior may include touching of genitals and other body parts that are perceived to be private (Howitt, 2009). In a sexual offence, a person may be forced, coerced or even threatened to engage in a sexual act without their consent.

It is important to note that this applies to both sexes. A sexual act may include forced kissing, forced anal and virginal penetration and all kinds of oral sex. All kinds of rape that include raping children, raping an elderly person or even marital rape fall under sexual offences (Prentky, 2009). The motivation behind sexual offences is the search for sexual gratification regardless of the crime a person commits in the process.

There is a common observation that human beings are in most cases influenced by what they see (Slade, 2001). There is a strong correlation between pornography and sexual offences especially in the modern society. Some of the sexual offenders may have preconceived fantasies of what they intent to commit but pornography acts as a catalyst towards committing the actual offence.

Sex offenders can not defend themselves in a court of law by claiming that their actions were influence by pornography (Langevin, 1988). This can not guarantee then any pardon because sexual offences are always assumed to be preconceived. It is also not morally right to willingly consume pornographic information.

Despite these arguments, the truth of the matter is that sexual offenses are influenced in a great way by pornography. A person may have some preconceived fantasies but exposure to pornographic materials may lead to some deviant arousal (Marshall, 2002).

Pornography portrays perverted sexual acts in an exciting manner that may make a person to actually believe that the acts are normal and acceptable (Marshall, 2002). An example of this may be a film showing adults having sex with children. A person watching such a film may end up having a distorted view that having sex with young children is exciting and may end up abusing the children in their vicinity.

The perverted sex acts that are portrayed in pornographic media make a person to have the drive to do unimaginable things (Slade, 2001). The normal and acceptable aspects of sexual intimacy are in most cases omitted in the majority of pornographic media. The effects of promiscuous sexual behavior are not in any way highlighted in pornography. Violent pornography encourages inappropriate sexual behavior.

Tender affection and communication are some of the aspects associated with healthy sexual intimacy that are in most cases distorted by violent pornography (Easton, 2013). Pornography distorts the perception of healthy sexual intimacy by makes a person’s mind to drift away from the reality.

Some partners in a legal sexual relationship such as marriage end up suffering silently because they are manipulated to engage in some perverted sexual acts by their partners without their approval (Easton, 2013).

The sexual offences that occur in a marriage relationship amounts to both physical and emotional abuse like any other category of sexual offence (Beech, 2009). The unhealthy views of sex propagated by pornography make some people to have the perception that some sex crimes are actually normal. Perverted sex in marriage has been on the increase due to pornography (Hanson, 2001).

The real definition of a healthy sexual intimacy is not in way portrayed in pornographic materials and this therefore encourages those who consume violent pornography to prefer the violent option (Hanson, 2001).

The fact that healthy intimacy messages are not portrayed in pornographic materials clearly demonstrates that the producers of pornography do not have good intentions. The tendency to try and imitate pornography makes a person to be at a high risk of committing a sexual offence (Hanson, 2001).

Sexual offences that occur in marriage are in most cases influenced by heavy consumption of pornography (Prentky, 2009). According to statistics, the number of sexual offences that are influenced by pornography is almost double the combined number of other causes. This is a very worrying statistic because the situation keeps getting worse each and every day.

Despite this finding, pornography is still the most sought after commodity. Accessibility to pornography has become common due to the availability of unrestricted media such as the internet (Howitt, 2009). Pornography generates billions of dollars every year across the world. The high rate at which people watch pornographic is not a good sign when it comes to the safety of women and children.

The distinction between pornography and reality is no longer there because of the perverted interpretations that pornography generates. Men and women see each other as objects of sexual satisfaction without feelings (Easton, 2013). This is a very dangerous attitude because it makes a sexual offender not to feel any guilt when they commit a sexual crime.

Sexual violence can only be tackled if adequate measures are put in place to fight pornography (Langevin, 1988). Modern pornography is worse because it portrays sexual violence and bondage that in most cases encourage sexual offences. The number of pornographic websites is high and this has made many people including children to access pornographic materials at an early age (Slade, 2001).

Cases of sexual violence are rampant because many people are able to access pornography. Consumption of pornography from an early age increases the likelihood of a person to commit a sexual offence. Pornography can lead to sexual addiction which increases the propensity of person to commit a sexual offence (Marshall, 2002). This is likely to occur in a case where there is no willing sexual partner to satisfy their sexual addiction. Pornography makes a person to have certain sexual expectation that their partners may not meet.

These expectations are dictated by the type of pornography that a particular person consumes. After watching some violent pornography, some men end up believing that women desire violent sexual encounters (Easton, 2013). Such a notion is very far from the reality and any person imitating that may end up committing a sexual offence.

The producers of pornography in most cases target men and this is the reason why the majority of people who commit sexual offences as a result of pornography are men. This is just an assumption because there is no clear segmentation when it comes to the pornography market (Hanson, 2001). Some pornographic materials portray male dominance and his tends to have a psychological effect on them.

The behaviors and attitudes promoted by pornography puts the women at risk because those who are under the influence of pornography will always try to imitate what they see (Langevin, 1988). There no proper regulations and laws to control the pornographic industry in many countries across the world. Pornographic materials have infiltrated the society and some people have actually addicted to pornography.

The sexual fantasies that arise from pornography condition the mind of a person to constantly think about sex. This may lead to activities like masturbation which may make a person to contemplate rape and other cases of sexual assault (Easton, 2013). Exposure to pornographic materials may lead to increased cases of sodomy because some of them promote anal sex (Langevin, 1988).

This is a very dangerous trend because the sexual offenses being committed also include people of the same sex. Women who watch pornographic materials that promote lesbianism can end up committing sexual offenses against fellow women.

The profile of a sex offender can be very useful when looking for sex offenders. This is sometimes not easy because their personality is somehow complicated. Despite this challenge, it is important to be aware of some of the characteristics of sex offenders for protective measures to be put in place by those who are near them (Howitt, 2009).

It is difficult to come up with a definite profile of a sex offender because many professionals have divergent views when it comes to identifying a potential sex offender. Sex offenders are associated with deviant interests and arousal preferences that are in most cases enhanced by pornography.

To begin with, potential sex offenders like participating in acts of physical aggression in the public domain. Potential sex offenders will always insist on having sexual contact with other people without their consent (Howitt, 2009). Potential sex offenders have a tendency to have sex with adolescents and young children.

Potential sex offenders secretly watch other people as they undress or have sex. Pornography is a major influence on the personality and behavior of a sex offender (Slade, 2001). Pornography can influence the arousal patterns of a person and in the process affect their personality and behavior.

The cognitive distortions propagated by pornography can influence a person to commit sex offences even if they were aware of the harmful and illegal nature of their actions (Marshall, 2002). The majority of sex offenders has pro-offending attitudes and will always justify their actions. A good number of sex offenders have inadequate social skills that can not enable them to initiate sexual relationships with others.

This kind of weakness makes them to stay in isolation and this provides them with a perfect opportunity to watch pornography and at the same time practice what they see by force (Beech, 2009). Pornography can make a person to lose their self-management skills that are necessary to control their emotions.

The ability of a person to control their sexual urges is normally diminished when they are always exposed to pornographic materials. A person who is not able to control his or her emotions is likely to commit a sex offence compared to a person with good self-management skills (Hanson, 2001).

The history of a person can sometimes influence their sexual behavior (Howitt, 2009). There are some sex offenders who engage in sex crimes because they were also abused. Although there is no concrete proof to come up with a clear conclusion, there is a possibility that a bad history can influence sex offences. Preferential sex offenders target victims of a particular gender or age (Slade, 2009).

This type of sex offenders keeps pornographic materials that portray their areas of interest and can at the same time record their sexual encounters with their victims. Preferential sex offenders are very discrete and can commit a number of sex offences before they are caught (Easton, 2013). Potential child molesters spend most of their time with children and will always act innocently to cover up their actions by appearing to be so concerned about children.

The sex offenders who abuse children may not necessary force themselves on them but some of them have refined skills to lure children (Pentky, 2009). Child pornography portrays the various seduction skills that sex offenders use to seduce children. Sex offenders are bale to perfect their seduction skills by watching child pornography and in turn put the skills into practice.

Child pornography has therefore influenced many cases of child molestation (Pentky, 2009). The most shocking thing is that there are some pornographic materials that glorify rape and offer tips on how to commit rape. Rape cases have been on the increase in recent days because the sex offenders do not in any way empathize with victims.

Some pornographic materials portray rape victims as if they enjoy the action (Slade, 2001). This makes sex offenders to actually believe that their victims enjoy being raped. This pattern of thinking is distorted and is therefore not good for the society. Sex offenders who are influenced by this kind of thinking take this as a perfect justification for their actions (Easton, 2013).

In conclusion, pornography has had a significant influence on the increasing number of sexual offences. Pornography distorts the conventional thinking patterns and attitudes and in the process influence how a person behaves (Marshall, 2002). The various categories of sexual offences are influenced in one way or another by the perverted messages that are portrayed in pornographic materials (Hanson, 2001).

It is therefore very important to understand the profile of sex offenders in order to put the necessary protective measures in place. Governments should come up with strict laws and regulation to stop the production and circulation of pornographic materials.

References

Beech, A. (2009). Assessment and treatment of sex offenders: A handbook. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

Easton, S. (2013). The problem of pornography: Regulation and the right to free speech. New York, NY: Routledge.

Hanson, R. (2001). A structural approach to evaluating change among sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 13(2), 105-122.

Howitt, D. (2009). Sex offenders and the internet. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

Langevin, R. (1988). Pornography and sexual offences. Annals of Sex Research, 1(3), 335-362.

Mashall, W. (2002). Revisiting the use of pornography by sexual offenders: Implications for theory and practice. Journal of Sexual Aggression: An International, Interdisciplinary Forum for Research, Theory and Practice, 6(1), 29-58.

Prentky, R. (2009). Forensic management of sexual offenders. London: Springer.

Slade, J. (2001). Pornography and sexual representation: A reference guide. London: Greenwood Publishing Group.

The Intervention for convicted sex offenders and integration into the society has become an intensely studied criminal justice and correctional issue over the last two decades. The state has raised the intervention programme from purely correctional issue to a broad public wellbeing issue.

Different researchers in different states have revealed very crucial findings about sex offenders. According to Hanson and Harris (2012), the nature of sexual offenders’ transgressions and their rates of committing the sexual offence after their release have lead to the creation of new intervention plans and approaches in treating and integrating the sex offenders after their release.

The general objectives of these intervention plans are to ensure the safety of member of the society. These intervention programmes also help sex offenders integrate well in the community after their release from prison.

This paper seeks to discuss the best interventions for convicted sexual offenders and integration into the society. Tandem to this, this paper will also utilise the available literature to reinforce the most appropriate programmes that the state can use to enable sex offenders integrate into the society after their release from gaol.

The most relevant intervention programmes fall, broadly, into two large categories. These categories include internal modification of behaviour through therapy and medication, and external modification of behaviour through concentrated community supervision and surveillance.

Currently, the most common intervention policies used to monitor and help integrate sex offenders into the society include registration, community notifications, civil commitment, residence restrictions, and electronic surveillance. The policies were not only implemented to ensure public safety, but also to ensure that the offenders do not repeat sex offence.

Nevertheless, some of these interventions policies have not been tremendously effective in achieving their overall objectives of ensuring public safety. Intervention strategies such as community notifications has not been very effective because members of the community often feels victimised as they are not given a chance to cope with the situation.

Public notifications also interfere with the offender’s ability to readjust to the community. As a result of the limitations of these intervention policies, researchers have identified various intervention programmes that can help sex offenders integrate in to the society.

This paper will break down the most relevant interventions into three categories. These categories include institutional programmes, surveillance programmes and assistance based programmes. This paper will also highlight the sociological theories behind these three categories.

Institutional Based Programmes

The various institutional based programmes that can help sex offenders integrate into the society after their release from correctional institutions include social reintegration, treatment and mental healthcare, work training and counselling.

Institutional based programmes are based on Thomas sociological theory, which argues that the confidence individuals construct during social interaction has real significance for the future. Institutional based programmes often have confidence that sex offenders can integrate in the society once they are rehabilitated.

Social Reintegration

Social reintegration can be defined as the support given to sex offenders immediately they are released from correctional institutions. Social reintegration consists of policies and plans designated to help sex offenders to live decent and just lives once they are integrated into the society.

Many of the problems that sex offenders face are problems of gaining adequate access to the social support network that services disadvantaged group in the general community.

Traditionally, voluntary or charitable organisations have been key providers of these services to recently released prisoners. In the United Kingdom, groups such as National Association for the Care and Resettlement of offenders (NACRO) has been in the forefront in helping sex offenders integrate well in the society after their release from prisons.

Recently, sociological researchers have stressed the importance of designing and implementing a broad intervention that will help provide a long lasting support to sex offenders after their release from prison.

According to Kinner (2006), a range of issues often confronts sex offenders after their release. Kinner (2006) identifies issues such as social and personal challenges as the weighty issues that impede rehabilitation of sex offenders.

Quinsey (2006) also states that the offenders can end up being unemployed, or even physically and emotionally abused by other members of the society.

However, when sex offenders are oriented into the social reintegration programmes once they are released from correctional facilities, they can be able to overcome some of these challenges. According to Kinner (2006), Social reintegration programme provides approach oriented coping style, excellent social problem-solving skills and greater sociability.

Kinner also identified that most of the voluntary agencies offering social reintegration programmes are becoming involved in the delivery of treatment or support services to released prisoners who are under some form of post-release supervision.

Jeremy et al. (2001) argues that lack of access to mainstream social services can be a systematic problem for offenders.

A review of re-offending by released sex offenders carried out by Jeremy et al. (2001) found out that many sex offenders had been excluded from access to social services before they went to prison, and that imprison only worsened their social exclusion.

The state, therefore, should ensure that intervention programme such as social reintegration programmes are fully implemented.

Hanson and Harris (2012) acknowledged that the process of re-integration could take a long period. This is because prison lies at the end of a long pathway of social deprivation, stunted life options and emotional and physical abuse.

The process of building a new life after prison necessarily involves tackling issues that have been previously unresolved (Hanson and Harris, 2012). Nevertheless, the need to take along view of re-entry is extremely necessary when dealing with sex offenders who had long custodial histories.

Treatment and Counselling Programmes for the Sex Offenders

The field of sex offender treatment is an example of restorative justice.

Not only does the field seeks to restore the offender as a functioning member of the society, but does that by helping the offender acknowledge the pain of the victim, take responsibility for their actions and in some way, either materially or symbolically make reparations to that victim.

Recent researches have shown that psychological treatment is one of the best intervention programmes that can help rehabilitate the offenders once they are out of prisons. Quinsey (2006) argues that appropriate treatment techniques and refinements can help sex offenders integrate perfectly into the society.

The treatment programmes should aim at assisting each sex offender in identifying a unique set of positive goals that will meet his or her needs. This programme acknowledges that most sex offenders often come out of prison when they are more aggressive than before they went to prison.

Furthermore, sex offenders normally lack knowledge, self-confidence and attitudes when they come out of prison.

Therefore, the offenders should be encouraged to visit therapist who can then plan treatment around providing each offender with the knowledge, skills, self-confidence and attitudes necessary to meet his need in social ways.

According to Hanson and Harris (2001), the vast majority of incarcerated sexual offenders eventually return to society. Therefore, treatment remains the most effective component of an intervention strategy that can help reduce and manage risk.

As a matter of fact, the majority of sex offenders who refuse treatment agree that they would enter a treatment programme if it focused on giving them a better life, rather than simply addressing their offending.

It also pertinent to note that the behaviour of therapists plays a tremendously fundamental role in successful treatment programmes for sexual offenders.

In the study by Jeremy et al. (2001), the influence of the vital therapist features is quite dramatic and accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the variance in beneficial changes. Therapist for the sexual offenders, therefore, must have good motivational skills that include the display of empathy, sympathy and warmth.

Employability and Workforce Participation

Once out of prison, sex offenders are often confronted with a hard task of finding stable and adequate source of financial income. Jeremy et al. (2001) states that a stable income source is an extremely significant factor in an individual transition from the correctional institution back to the society.

Recent studies have revealed that participation in the workforce with stable income often result in lower rates of sexual reoffending.

Research by Jeremy et al (2001) indicates that low income among recently released sex offenders can result in frustrations or even disintegration of offenders self esteem. Therefore, sex offenders that have been recently released from correctional facilities have high chances of committing sex crimes again.

Jeremy et al. (2001) argue that job training and placement programmes can lead to employment and recidivism among recently released sex offenders (Jeremy et al., 2001). Once they are put in stable jobs, the offenders can integrate perfectly well in the society.

Support and Assistance Based Transition Programmes

Support and assistance based programmes are rooted in social exchange theory, which argues that interaction between members of society can result into those members gaining or losing. In the context of support and assistance based programme, both the society and sex offender gain.

While the programme allows sex offenders to be accepted into the society, it removes the psychological trauma experienced by the members of the society during the time of social offence (Jeremy et al., 2001).

In this programme, the sex offenders are encouraged to have a therapist who will be fully aware of the plans, as well as his support system, including his twelve-step sponsor, family members, and employers.

This team works together to provide assistance, encouragement and support to the offenders. Individuals from the society or offenders neighbourhood can also be part of the support team.

According to Hanson and Harris (2001), this intervention strategy has worked well in countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom. In Canada, the Community Sentencing Circle programme that offer assistance and support to offenders has lead to both the reconcilliation of the community as well as to the victims and offenders.

Therefore, working together with the sex offenders helps reinstate the offenders back into the community. Other countries such as the New Zealand have also adapted assistance and support programme called Family Group conference. This system has also encouraged the reconcilliation of both the society as well as to the victims and offenders (Jeremy et al., 2001).

Nevertheless, while it may be critical to provide exceptional, intensive social support in the period immediately after release, the ultimate goal of assistance and support programme is to engage sex offenders in mainstream support services. Engaging families and members of the society in the transition process are a fundamental element in this normalisation.

Surveillance Based Programmes

Surveillance based programmes can also provides fundamental intervention after sexual offenders are released from prisons. Research by Quinsey (2006) indicates that effective supervision of sex offenders can help reduce the chances of reoffending.

Upon their release on parole, the sex offenders will hand their parole officer a carefully prepared relapse prevention plans which outlines his particular high risk situations and what interventions he has developed and intend to use.

The effectiveness of supervision for sex offenders has been known for a long time. Different sociologists have stressed the importance of supervision for reducing the risk of released sexually dangerous persons.

Electronic control has also played an extremely significant role in enhancing surveillance-based programmes. Currently, the electronic technology has made it possible to monitor sexual offenders via telephone lines and computers.

Therefore, video screens can be used to ensure that the sex offenders are at home during the phone call. The probation officer simply calls the sex offender on the phone and then conducts the face-to-face interview without leaving the office.

Surveillance programme has its foundation on feminism theory, which argues that women are vulnerable to rape cases than men. Surveillance programmes limit the interaction between members of society and the sexual offenders to limits the chances of sexual offence.

Lastly, Implementation of intervention programmes aimed at securing better access to existing resources for ex-prisoners and improving the coordination between the social service agencies and criminal justice can play a significant role during integration of sex offenders in the society.

In the US, the United States Department of Justice has funded the re-entry partnership strategy in eight states. These programmes seeks to engage releases families, community based service providers, the faith community and other sources of supports into reinstating offenders into the society (Jeremy et al., 20001).

Most of these programmes involve direct service provision by the support agencies as well as the service brokerage. However, it is vital to note that successful integration into the society depends fundamentally on the commitment and perseverance of the sex offenders.

Sex offenders in post release programmes must see themselves as actively involved in their own integration rather than as passive recipients.

Conclusion

Conclusively, while working with other relevant bodies, the government must continue to develop and test sound interventional strategies and determines which of those strategies are most effective with which types of offenders.

The society can also play a critical role in defining, detecting, and punishing sexual defiance to help reduce the cases of sexual offence. As noted by Jeremy et al. (2001), the interventions must be demonstrably effective, and they must be selected for the unique needs posed by the individual.

References

Hanson, K. & Harris, A. (2001). A structured Approach to evaluating change among Sexual Offenders. A Journal of Research and Treatment, 13(1), 105-122.

Jeremy, T., Amy, L., and Michelle, W. (2001). From Prison to Home. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute Press.

Kinner, A. (2006). The Post-Release Experience of Prisoners in Queensland. Canberra: Australian institute of criminology.

Quinsey, V. (2006). Violent Offenders: Appraising and Managing Risk. Philadelphia: American Psychological Association.

Over several years, sexual crimes have continued to raise concerns within the United States population (Nieto, 2004). This happens due to the rise in sexual related crimes within the country. Between 1980 and 1994, for instance, the number of incarcerated sex offenders grew by a yearly margin of seven percent, a figure that represented one in every ten cases of incarceration (Nieto, 2004).

Consequently, there was the need to supervise sex offenders within the community in spite of the posed challenges. However, different supervision strategies must be used depending on the risk levels posed by sex offenders in the society. In this paper, the author discussed three strategies of supervising sex offenders within the community namely: GPS Monitoring, Restrictive Residency Perimeters, and Case Management Approach.

GPS Monitoring

Within the last ten years, the use of electronic monitoring technologies has risen to prevent sex offenders from committing further crimes in the future (IACP, 2008). One such technology is the Global Positioning Satellite technology that law enforcement officials use in tracking the sex offenders within the society. Depending on the risks posed to the society, sex offenders may be subjected to different lengths of supervision ranging from five years to lifetime supervision. An advantage of the GPS monitoring system against other forms of traditional monitoring system is that it gives the exact position of an offender within 10 to 15 feet (IACP, 2008). This strategy, therefore, is an effective means of conducting close supervision to sex offenders in the community.

There are two categories of GPS tracking, which include the active and passive forms (IACP, 2008). Both passive and active forms include exclusion zones that vary according to each offender. In the active system, the monitoring official such as a parole officer receives instant notifications when an offender enters an exclusion zone; hence, the appropriate measures are taken. In passive systems, the data become recorded, but the monitoring official does not get an instant notification. It is quite easy, using these systems, for the supervision officers to establish offender violations from the notifications received (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2005).

High-risk sex offenders are the perfect candidates for supervision by the GPS system as all the information about their whereabouts are relayed in regular intervals to the supervision officer. This means that violations by the offender are captured for use as evidence against the officer. When offenses are committed, and the evidences handed over by the supervision officers, appropriate measures including incarceration be taken.

This tool is effective because it restricts the offender’s actions and generates inducement to abide by the terms of their supervision (IACP, 2008). Despite the numerous benefits of using the GPS system, there still exist some limitations as the system does not totally guarantee safety of the public (DeMichele, Brian & Deeanna, 2007). For example, sex offenders may trick victims to areas outside the exclusion zones and commit an offence. Additionally, the system may be expensive and substantially increases the workload of the supervision officers.

Restrictive Residency Perimeters

In order for correctional facilities to ensure the society remains safe from sex offenders, residency restrictions that prevent sex offenders from living within selected areas can serve the purpose (Payne, n.d). Currently, at least 14 jurisdictions have already implemented laws that restrict convicted sex offenders from living within established radiuses from schools, parks and other areas where children are crowded.

The restriction on residing areas may vary between 1,000 and 2,500 from the listed areas as defined by the correctional facilities management (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2005). Since residency perimeters give clear barriers to sex offender residing areas, supervision officers can effectively manage the offenders.

Within the state of Illinois, legislation has been passed restricting any convicted sex offender (including those on probation and parole) from living at the same address where another person convicted of a sex offence lives. This approach ensures that sex offenders do not get close together since this can compromise the supervision process; hence, result in possible recidivism. However, sex offenders my equally stay together in transitional housing facilities, which must be licensed by the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) in order to operate.

In Oklahoma, sex offenders that victimized children below 18 years are restricted from residing 2,000 feet from schools or licensed day cares (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2005). Implementing this strategy in sex offender supervision helps supervision officers to manage the offenders effectively, as the victim is eliminated. During supervision, sex offenders are subject to both home-based or prison based treatment programs depending on their perceived improvement (DeMichele, Brian & Deeanna, 2007).

Case Management Approach

In the recent years, the numbers of registered sex offenders within the United States have gradually increased (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2005). As a result, supervision officers are assigned to a larger number of sex offenders who require close supervisions than in the past. As a solution, law enforcement agencies and correctional facilities implemented the use of volunteers to boost the effective management of sex offenders within the society. This idea resulted in the creation and use of the case management team as a strategy to aid supervision officers in handling immense workloads (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2005).

A case management team refers to individuals within the locality of an offender that can supplement the management offered by supervision officers. These individuals can either be family members, volunteers, or any other person that have sufficient knowledge about the operations of the sex offender (CSOM, 2000). Furthermore, the supervision officer can get sensitive information from individuals familiar with the offender’s behavior without necessarily having to schedule meetings with the offender. As such, relevant information about the offender can be received in a relatively short span of time.

Case management system enables supervision officers to manage offenders effectively because the community gives ready information about sex offenders. Also, they are able to deduce whether the sex offender is improving or posses increasing risk to the society. Consequently, an appropriate action can be undertaken in time in order to keep the society safe from danger. In some jurisdictions, correctional facilities have improved supervision networks that include family members and volunteers.

In Vermont, for instance, correctional facilities include family members, friends, sponsors and others in their supervision programs (DeMichele, Brian & Deeanna, 2007). Furthermore, volunteers receive training on how to assist sex offenders reintegrate into the society, as well as, give information on the offender’s progress. Surprisingly, these positive approaches to sex offender management have resulted in a significantly reduced recidivism (CSOM, 2000).

The mentioned approaches play a significant role in reducing sex offender recidivism since a close and objective supervision can be realized from implementing the strategies. Also, information becomes easily available to the supervisor giving a clear progress of the sex offender’s progress. The case management approach and the GPS system are excellent examples of this fact. In conclusion, the implementation of these approaches yields positive results in terms of reducing recidivism.

Reference List

Bureau of Justice Assistance. (2005). Managing Sex Offenders: Citizen Supporting Law Enforcement. Web.

CSOM. (2000). Community Supervision of the Sex Offender: An Overview of Current and Promising Practices. Web.

DeMichele, M., Brian, P., & Deeanna, B. (2007). A Call for Evidence-Based Policy. Web.

IACP. (2008). Tracking Sex Offenders with Electronic Monitoring Technology: Implications and Practical Uses for Law Enforcement. Web.

Nieto, M. (2004). Community Treatment and Supervision of Sex Offenders: How it is Done Across the Country and in California. Web.

Payne, B. (n.d). Warning: Sex Offenders need to be supervised in the Community. Web.

What are some of the challenges and successes that authorities have had in prosecuting Australian’s and other child sex offenders using extraterritorial laws?

Child sex offenders are classified into two major categories; people who look for young ones and lure them for sexual activities. All these people are seen as criminals in the eye of law and justice. There are often pros and cons when an attempt is made to prosecute an Australian who happens to be a victim of such instances.

Filing a case that will stand up in a court of law is yet another big challenge that is experienced when prosecuting an Australian. This implies that there are difficulties in gathering evidences that can be used against the accused for the case to succeed. Regardless of the type of child sex criminal, it is difficult to identify such individuals and how to approach them to acknowledge for them their deeds.

Through government efforts, success can be achieved by prosecuting a paedophile as a way of offering security to children. The process of the prosecution is backed up the implementation of ECPAT Act that supports the protection of children’s rights to live a stress-free life. Another key benefit is that victims of such circumstances are eligible to local support that will ensure justice for their well-being. The state law that looks after children who fall prey for such victims also forms part of success in dealing with paedophile cases.

In what ways can tourism be a catalyst for change and a mechanism to end the exploitation of children worldwide?

In working out ways to help resolve cases of child exploitation across the world, tourism is seen to play a significant role in implementing this. Tourism activity involves movement of people from place to place. Considering this as a significant factor, it is ideal to use tourism as away to pass messages that will influence the decision of offenders to change in their conducts. Another way in which tourism may catalyse the move to limit cases of child sex tourism is through the formation and implementation of acts that will govern the activities of people. This will also outline the relationship with children and indicate limits of each tourist.

Through declarations and full support to eradicate child sex and internet pornography, tourism industry has played a crucial role in the implementation of such moves. The industry organizes groups that create awareness among people of different countries and offers various ways in which child protection can be conducted. This has catalysed the move to achieve a global mission of doing away with child sex tourism. Child Wise Tourism, as a project, also aims at protecting young ones from falling victims of opportunistic and paedophile sex offenders who aim at young ones across the globe. All these aim at creating awareness of predators that use young ones for sexual activities.

The Silver Spring’s Police Department requests for a total of $100,000 for the establishment and implementation of a sex offenders task force. The Sex Offenders Task Force (SOTF) will utilize the $100,000 grant in a number of ways. The task force’s main priority is the attainment of a dedicated staff that will work hard to tackle the issue of the increasing number of sex offenders within Silver Springs. Most of the task force’s staff will be sourced from the police department.

Additional staff will be hired on part time basis depending on workload and assignment types. Consequently, the compensation package for the part time staff will amount to $23, 000 for the initial six months of operations. The task force will also establish a parallel registry to track the activities of registered sex offenders within Silver springs. Members of the task force will also seek to increase the police department’s capacity to build cases against sex offenders.

The task force will offer a helping hand to both state and federal prosecutors. In addition, the task force is expected to boost the existing Public Service Announcement service against sex offenses. Another goal of the task force is to enhance early detection of sexual offenses especially in cases that involve children. The total operation costs of the task force will amount to approximately $57, 000. Travel, overhead, and accommodation costs of the task force are estimated to be around $20,000.

Budget

Budget Explanation

Personnel

Most of the task force will be made up of members of the police department. Police officers already have the necessary training on matters concerning sexual offences. Consequently, members of the police department will not require extra training. The Silver Springs Police Department will provide the SOTF with 90% of its staff.

The members of staff who are not from the police department will be hired for purposes of the awareness campaign. Therefore, all the additional staff will be hired on part time basis. The rest of outside staff will mostly perform clerical work within the task force’s several offices. However, hiring of part time clerical officers is restricted to situations of increased workload. The inspector of the Silver Springs Police Department will chair the SOTF. In addition, the inspector will ratify most of the department’s decisions.

Direct Expenses

The task force will incur very little direct expenses because it will be a branch of the Silver Springs Police Department. Consequently, the task force will utilize the department’s resources on most occasions. The only additional direct expenses that will be needed by the task force include purchase of stationery. The additional stationery will be made available to the part time civilian workers. The reason for the additional purchase of stationery is that some of the police-issued materials cannot be used by civilians. The purchase of two additional computers is a standard procedure whenever a new task force is instituted.

Operational Costs

The task force’s operation costs form the bulk of its entire budget. The reason for the increased operation budget provisions is that the task force is an active body that is determined to achieve positive results. Consequently, the task force will undertake an ambitious public campaign to encourage the public to report cases of sexual abuse before they escalate. In addition, the public campaign will target parents and guardians with the aim of educating them on how to discover cases of child abuse early. The task force will run an improved registry that focuses on repeat sex offenders. The new registry will also be used for research purposes.

Travel and Accommodation Costs

The travel costs will cover expenses for police officers who travel on ‘unofficial’ police duties. The accommodation costs will cover expenses for police officers in unofficial assignments that are only of benefit to the SOTF. In isolated incidences, the police will offer stipends and accommodation to informers.

The case at Hand: One Mr. James Jones was convicted as a sex offender. Under Illinois laws, sex offenders are obliged to register when changing residence or moving from one place to reside to another for about ten or more days.

Discussion

My initial thought on the case of Mr. James Jones would be not to convict. It is so because assuming he had been convicted before, it is such a harsh decision to convict a person who has moved out from one door to a couple of doors for residence, and be convicted for it.

However, since Mr. James Jones had been convicted as a “sex offender” specifically “juvenile pimping” and that the Illinois law provides, “a convicted sex offender shall register in person with the chief of police of the municipality wherein he or she resides, and upon moving, shall likewise register no more than ten days after the move, or at any place of temporary residence, where the period of residence exceeds ten days.”

While it may be necessary to consider the defence’ side of the case where the intent of the Illinois law has not been violated, that is, to inform a neighbourhood of the presence of a sex offender in the area, it is to be noted that there can be other reasons, why such clause or law was enacted, that is, in my personal opinion, to safeguard and expedite a speedy response among the police or authority in case another offence has been committed by Mr. Jones.

Kenneth Goodpaster suggested that, “There cannot be one voice invested with the authority of the community. It’s important to introduce amateur judgment in a process that tests professional judgment. Thomas Jefferson used to argue against the professional legislator, in favor of the citizen-legislator; the jury system values the experience of the ordinary citizen.” The professional judgment may be gauged as to the purpose of the violated clause or provision of the Illinois law, and that is to register with the police officer with regards to transfer of residence. It was not indicated whether the transfer would be the same neighbourhood or not, but simply, a transfer of residence from any previous, or a movement that requires more than ten days of residence.

For the Goodpaster suggestion, the jury must look into what is very apparent, what was violated, and not go over the fence and look for the purpose of the enacting of a law, of which policy-makers and as well as law experts dwell on.

So that in the process, I would finally decide to convict such that an agreement with the Parole Officer when he signed a form indicating he understood the provisions of the law, and has been violated.

Conclusion

I have learned through this exercise that while there could be no apparent reason or reasons for the enactment of a law, or insertion of a clause therein, public safety at most is guarded and at the priority list.

To be a member of a jury could be a real challenge, for those who are amateurs and un-initiated. However, to be fully capable of doing a jury’s duty, once must at most times, put reservations aside in order to view the most apparent harm, or protection that must be valued and prioritized: and that is the safety and security of the public.

Arguments for notifying community

Megan’s death changed the way things were perceived by U.S. Supreme Court and therefore just one month after Megan’s death, community notification law was passed by the Assembly. After undergoing through umpteen critics, the law initiated a new debate whether notified or not to be notified. Whatever be the debate, U.S. Supreme court understands the concern for community’s protection; therefore the state considers it a necessary measure to inform the community members if any child sex-offender is living in the neighbourhood. New Jersey v Timmendequas case has opened up new concerns for security and protection of the children of which the most fundamental one in the eyes of the federal state is to notify community about the offender. Following are the reasons that highlight the arguments for notification:

There are only two conditions to consider for the sex offender, either he is dangerous or not dangerous (Janus & Prentky, 2003). Now, if we consider the first position that means he is harmful enough to conduct any crime. This is also evident from the fact that despite taking measures for the security, up till today child sex offenders’ rate is recidivist. ‘Harmful offender’ must be treated accordingly and if living in community, community members must be notified about the presence of the offender, so that they could take necessary measures for the protection of their children. This would at some time make the offender vulnerable enough to conduct or repeat any crime. At least this would make him think twice before conducting or planning sexual crime.

If, the offender is not dangerous and is new to crime or has not committed any crime, the court provisions, punishments, setting up of national Criminal Records Bureau and the use of the Sex Offenders Register will make him vulnerable to conduct the offence, in fact it is possible that he quits the decision to commit crime. However, this still leaves the problem of abusers who have never been prosecuted and are therefore not listed on any register. This could therefore lull the community including children and young people to some extent about their safety and security concerns.

Research suggests that 50 percent of the sex offenders after subjecting to notification laws, relocated to less intrusive states. (Bonnie, 1995) This indicates that in most cases sex offenders keep changing their locations to prey easily. Notification not only keeps the community updated about such offenders, but also provides them with a sense of security, so this way the community initiates a new bond of affection with the state and law. After all it is the right of the community to know if a dangerous offender is living among them.

Notification does not only mean to create awareness among community members so as to protect children but also to make them aware of appropriate steps that can be taken to enhance safety and security. Notifying refers to appropriate training for members of community in residential and other childcare institutions, so as to enable them to become aware of the nature and impact of child sexual abuse. Furthermore, it would also lead to improvement in the detection of ongoing abuse from adults or peers either from within or outside the institution. This suggests a need for a more diverse range of services that may or may not necessarily involve legal processes, or perhaps delay the involvement of legal processes, to a point where the child or young person feels stronger and more able to cope.

Arguments against notifying community

The trend after the case New Jersey v Timmendequas no doubt has initiated a new era of ‘community notification’ in the form of “Megan’s Law”, but at the same time research reveals that by creating risk priorities, U.S. District Court has remained unable to create enough community notification to protect community members from child sex-offenders. In this case one should be considering more that the obligation should not be upon state’s head to notify each member or whole of the community about the presence of child sex-offender for the following reasons:

Whether the offender resides in notified or unnotified community, notifying community members of the presence of sex offenders will not prevent them recommit offence. (Bonnie, 1995) Research reveals that every year approximately 8, 96,000 children are abused in U.S. alone of which at least 1400 die due to maltreatment. (Doriane, 2005) Now how does notifying community decrease such offence when to this day despite community notification, state has failed to control child sexual abuse.

According to Magazine Article by Jacobs (2003) “Sex offender notification is nothing but safety illusion” (Jacobs, 2003). I agree with Jacobs as Child sex-offender notification has only left us with false hopes and promises never fulfilled. Timmendequas case is the example before us. In fact the research of 1995 Washington State depicts that when a group of sex offenders were released from the prison, community notification showed no difference in the reduction of crime rates.

Another main reason behind the failure of child sex-offender notification is that our police and local authorities are only aware of a small amount of sex offenders that are rarely reported. The majority of the cases are never reported for the decisions adults make in order to maintain their family’s self esteem.

The adoption of the Megan’s law by the Federal Government and the 50 states on one hand has provided children security by notifying parents to protect their children from offenders and keep an eye on neighbourhood, but on the other hand has opened several other ways for sex-offenders to trap and victimize their crime (Klaas, 2003). It is to this reason every time when an offender is identified in community; he is escorted by a new trick to prey his victim. The notification has closed simpler ways to prey for the victims, so offenders search for new ways to prey along with other ways and means for committing new offences. So, the state concerning the delicacy of the issue should not be liable to officially inform the community.

In 2006, U.S. Supreme Court while showing importance of the safety and well-being of community’s children, conducted several statutory enactments after which the court found that majority of the child sexual abuse cases are solved and thus remains within in intra-familial, rather than being reported. (Vandervort, 2006) In this case, the court must consider the community’s condition and must adopt one of the following two solutions: Either the court should condemn community for not fully participating in the child sex abuse issue and should take measures to properly implement the law and provision to report such cases or the court while taking into consideration the fact of lesser registrations, must leave the decision on the community. In this case the court and the Federal state must not be held responsible for not notifying community members. That would obviously make the community members responsible for taking decisions.

The realization of the Supreme Court of the increasing rate of recidivism while notifying community about the sex offender has escorted the state to implement sex offender registration statutes and sex offender treatment programs. But despite such measures, recidivism keeps on increasing without any end. Now, what does that means? Nothing, other than the fact that notification provides the offenders with the full advantage to reveal themselves in community and suggest new ways of preying innocent children.

Notification also gives strength to the culprit as they are aware of the reasons for which the young children would not feel comfortable to tell or they would be wondering whom to tell, or making the decision not to tell. All these possibilities exist, but interrelated. Experienced offenders are aware that the children having private feelings and fears about themselves and what people would think of them, linked to feelings of voluntarism and beliefs about being responsible for the abuse. Therefore, being aware of the situation that children feel vulnerable after sexual attacks, leads the offenders towards successful implementation of their plans. Notification or unnotification does not matter.

According to Bonnie (1995) “Community notification simply transfers the problem of dangerous sex offenders from middle and upper-class communities to poor inner-city neighbourhoods”(Bonnie, 1995). Continuous relocation of the offenders means every time a new child is victimized, in a new city, followed by a new place. So, what is the use of community notification when every time the offender is the same, but victim is new?

Personal Opinion

Notifying community about released sex offenders neither discourage offenders nor it helps the legal concerns and community to search for the real causes behind sexual crimes. Therefore, I personally conclude that notification law has nothing to do with recidivism sexual abuse. What matters is how we equip our youth to confront such dilemmas. Either it be measures like children awareness, sex education, and physical training programs or be parental supervision with proper teaching, it is how our young ones are equipped with confidence and cautiousness.

References

1. Bonnie Steinbock, (1995) “A Policy Perspective” In: Criminal Justice Ethics. Volume: 14. Issue: 2. p: 4-9. Institute for Criminal Justice Ethics.
2. Doriane Lambelet Coleman, (2005) “Storming the Castle to Save the Children: The Ironic Costs of a Child Welfare Exception to the Fourth Amendment” In: William and Mary Law Review. Volume: 47. Issue: 2. p: 413+ College of William and Mary, School of Law
3. Jacobs Deborah, (2003) “Why Sex Offender Notification Won’t Keep Our Children Safe” In Magazine Title: Corrections Today. Volume: 65. Issue: 1. p: 22. American Correctional Association
4. Klaas Marc, (2003) “Sex Offender Registries Protect Our Children” In Magazine Title: Corrections Today. Volume: 65. Issue: 1. p: 23. American Correctional Association.
5. Janus S. Eric & Prentky Robert, (2003) “Forensic Use of Actuarial Risk Assessment with Sex Offenders: Accuracy, Admissibility and Accountability” In: American Criminal Law Review. Volume: 40. Issue: 4. p: 1443+. Georgetown University Law Centre
6. Vandervort E. frank, (2006) “Videotaping Investigative Interviews of Children in Cases of Child Sexual Abuse: One Community’s Approach” In: Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. Volume: 96. Issue: 4. p: 1353+. North western University, School of Law

Nowadays, sex trafficking remains one of the most common social problems, as “700,000 children and women are objects of sexual exploitation” annually (Levinson, 2002, p. 256). It combines the principles of sexual abuse, prostitution, and trafficking (Michie, 2001). Due to globalization, this issue has a presence worldwide, and it is often referred to as “international trafficking” (Michie, 2001, p. 1347). As for its prevalence, it could be said that this social phenomenon is highly widespread in developing countries and regions such as Africa and Asia (Michie, 2001). The centralization in these geographical locations is rational, as the majority of developing countries do not have sufficient bureaucratic apparatus and a well-developed legal system. Based on the factors depicted above, the primary goal of the paper is to understand the working mechanism of sex trafficking by describing the characteristics of the victims, offenders, applicable laws, and steps to face crime.

In the first place, it is critical to discuss the main profiles of the victims. It is widely believed that women and children are the most common targets. The selection of these social groups pertains to their vulnerability and “the integrity of women bodies” (Michie, 2001, p. 1443). Nonetheless, the rising levels of corruption and prostitution in these countries modify the commonly recognized features of the victims. Nowadays, it is difficult to determine similarities between the victims, as, now they include not only women and children but also men and the elderly. Nevertheless, the most vulnerable social groups are individuals with a low level of income and education and the ones, who experience problems with socialization (Michie, 2001).

Another critical aspect to determine is the actions of the offenders and their potential ways of selecting victims. In this instance, the offenders can be represented by the individuals or belong to the well-developed framework of sexual trafficking. In the majority of the cases, the offenders are interested not only in the financial aspect of the question but also psychological satisfaction. In this case, the sexual domination is perceived as a way to show the power of the male culture while explaining the reasons for having males as a substantial number of the offenders (Michie, 2001). Depending on the needs of the offenders, the victims are selected while paying attention to their lifestyle, level of income and education, and the ability to socialize. After that, they try to establish trusting relationships or commit crimes suddenly, as the victim will have no time to react.

Speaking of the applicable laws, it remains apparent that this crime tends to violate the basic concepts of human rights and freedoms. To introduce the specific punishments for this crime, the Commercial Sex Act was introduced while prohibiting people to be forced to be involved in sexual acts for financial purposes (Levinson, 2002). At the same time, various acts tend to exist to improve the current situation. They increase the protection against trafficking and minimize the consequences of the crime and violation of human rights both nationally and internationally (Levinson, 2002). It could be said that a combination of these laws enhances the positions of the social groups at risk, but it remains apparent that the gaps in legislation continue to exist, and it requires improvement.

Lastly, when referring to the steps to combat crime, it is apparent that in the majority of the countries, the Coalition against Trafficking tends to exist (Levinson, 2002). These organizations focus on the prevention phase. Meanwhile, working together with legal institutions can enhance the control procedures. Having a combination of sufficient enforcement and judicial systems will help find the main sources of the violations and prevent the development of the trafficking network. Simultaneously, organizing various educational sessions will increase the awareness of the society and decrease the prevalence of these crimes.

References

Levinson, D. (2002). Encyclopedia of crime and punishment. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Michie, J. (2001). Reader’s guide to the social sciences. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis Group.

Introduction

Criminology or criminal justice is one of the most exciting approaches in social sciences, which aim to analyze a crime as an individual or even social phenomenon. A crime is considered to be a violation of rules and laws set by the government in accordance with the legal regulations.

Usually, any kind of violation is pursued by a certain type of punishment. Unfortunately, nowadays, people can easily find out a way to be punished to a lesser extent or even avoid any kind of punishment. For example, when, in New Jersey, in 1994, Jesse Timmendequas raped and killed Megan Kanka, a 7-year-old girl, he was released within a certain period of time and got an opportunity to continue his crimes and murders.

This action called numerous misunderstandings from society, and was one of the reasons to create a law that requires a registration of all sexual offenders. Megan’s Law is served to notify the vast majority of sexual offenders in society; its study allows to analyze the impact of the law on inhabitants of New Jersey, its effects and effectiveness, and the implementation of the law in the other states of America and even in the whole world.

People should get an opportunity to be protected against offenders and other criminals, and Megan’s Law is one of the brightest steps to make our life more or less normal, as no one can be sure about personal safety and the safety of his/her relatives.

Discussion

Megan’s Law: What, Why, and How

Megan’s Law is a general name of the laws, which make the information about sexual offenders available to the public. Usually, state representatives include names, pictures, and addresses of offenders, and the nature of crimes they commit. Such kind of information is available online and in special mass media. So, if a person wants to know whether a sexual offender is living nearby, it is possible to get to know from such sources. Megan’s Law is a good attempt to protect society from numerous sexual offenders.

After their daughter was terribly killed, Richard and Maureen Kanka admit that if the parents have any chance to known more about people live around, they should use it in order to protect their children from sexual predators, who may live nearby. With the help of Megan’s Law, not only parents, but any person can easily find out whether a sexual offender is near or not.

Zgoba and Bachar (2009) present the necessary information about Megan’s Law. It is all about the fact that “sex offenders are required to register with the local police department within a specified time after release from prison.”

On the one hand, such information should be rather helpful and significant for people. On the other hand, such crimes and their publicity mark out the offenders for the rest of their lives and do not allow them to redeem their faults.

What is better: to provide society with an opportunity to know about all sexual offenders or give those offenders a chance to change their lives and be useful for society. However, it is impossible to be sure about past sexual offenders’ good intentions. This is why it is not that easier to be concerned about Megan’s Law effectiveness. Even if the crime does happen, the offender may be justified.

Even if the victim is killed, the killer can have all chances to spend some time in jail, and then continue living and committing numerous crimes. Even if the killer is justified and gets a chance to live among other people, he/she cannot be sure that he/she will get an opportunity to be justified by people, who have already lost someone. There are so many “even if”, and we cannot say for sure what way in order to punish the guilty will be correct after the crime has already committed.

Importance of Research in Criminology

Dantzker and Hunter (2000) point out that “research plays a very important role in criminal justice and criminology. It brings questions and answers, debates, and issues.” This is why it is crucially important to conduct researches in order to analyze the effectiveness of the actions taken.

In their article, Sex Offender Registration and Notification: Limited Effects in New Jersey, Zgoba and Bachar present a careful analysis of the effects of Megan’s Law, where they describe three major steps taken during the New Jersey Study: identification of trends, comparison what happed before and after this law’s implementation, and estimation of costs.

Identification of trends helps to define the years after and before the implementation of Megan’s Law. Ten years before and ten years after the law’s implementation are taken under consideration. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports provide this analysis of information.

During the second step, the actions of sexual offenders were carefully analyzed in the frames of certain communities. Their actions, behavior, relations to people around – all this were studied, and some differences were mentioned.

The last stage of research was intended to identify costs, which had to be spent on implementation of the law. Zgoba and Bachar (2009) underline that, in 1995, more than $555,565 was spent to implement the law in New Jersey. In 2006, the analysis showed that more than $3,9 million was received from 15 counties of New Jersey. 15 counties of New Jersey of the total 21 counties have already completed the survey.

Unfortunately, the results of Megan’s Law were not as successful as it should be. The number of victims and sexual offenders does not decrease. People still commit crimes, sexual offences in particular. Of course, inhabitants have more chances to find the protections; however, it is not always in time. Children are under a threat to be offended by sexual predators, and parents should use numerous kinds of protection to be sure about safety of their children.

Limitations in the Study and Possible Improvements

As any law set by government, Megan’s Law has its limitations and even shortages. These shortages prevent from getting concrete results in this research and clear effects of the law. First of all, it is necessary to admit that not every sexual crime is reported. There are still some people, who, by certain reasons, do not want to inform the others about the crime committed.

Not all sexual offences are reported, and such keeping back serves as the major cause of not true offending rates. Another challenge that many researchers may face is the fact that Megan’s Law mostly serve as a deterrent but not as support equipment. This is why it is necessary to determine once again the purposes of Megan’s Law and analyze why so many people cannot or do not want to inform about sexual offences and give up a criminal.

In order to make this research more effective, it is better to explain people how exactly their information is important. Even more, it is possible to promise people and provide them with free medical examination and support from police. People should believe that they have a kind of support and may trust someone to share their problems and find appropriate solutions. Dantzker and Hunter (2000) say that to “successfully complete any type of research, it is important to establish a feasible plan or blueprint, the research design.

This plan primarily responds to the common five W’s (who, what, where, when, and why) and H (how) of investigation.” When we talk about sexual offenders and the effectiveness of Megan’s Law, we have a clear explanation of who commit a crime and who should inform about it, what, where, and when is violated. The significant point is why this violation happens. This is why it is necessary to clear up why people commit the crime and why the victims do or do not announce it.

When we should answer how the crime is committed and how research should be conducted, it is better to take into consideration external factors, such as physical and emotional condition of the offender, place, where the crime takes place, and the reasons why the person was chosen as a victim. After researchers consider these facts, it will be much easier to make clear and strong conclusions at the end of the investigation.

Conclusions

People cannot stop committing crimes. Usually, offenders have enough ideas to explain why they do this or that and who/what is the reasons. Sometimes, victims may provoke people to commit the crime: it may be their words or behavior, or anything else that may cause negative reactions. The case of Megan Kanka is terrible indeed. This girl was kidnapped, raped, and murdered. She was only 7 year old. Jesse Timmendequas has no right to do those disgusting things and deprive the girl from the opportunity to continue this life.

Megan’s Law is one of the brightest steps, taken by the government in order to underline that such murders play a significant role for society. Of course, the decision to release the murder may be considered as rather unfair. Without any doubts, it cannot be justified. This is why the measures taken to prevent other children are quite justified.

People have the right to know who lives nearby. The question is if people can live close to a person, who has already committed such a terrible crime as rape and kidnapping. Parents know that, somewhere near, a person, who has done terrible things, may repeat the same with their own children. What should they do: change their address or every day live with a thought that something bad may happen.

Sexual offenders’ registration is necessary indeed. However, is it fair that offenders and even killers have the right to continue living within society and frightening people? In order to clear up whether Megan’s Law is necessary or not, it is better to ask people inform about sexual offences. This information may be rather crucial in order to stop violence and provide people with opportunities to live safely.

Reference List

Dantzker, M. L. and Hunter, R. D. (2000). Research Methods for Criminology and Criminal Justice: A Primer. Butterworth-Heinemann.

Zgoba, K. M. and Bachar, K. (2009, April 9). Sex Offender Registration and Notification: Limited Effects in New Jersey. National Criminal Justice Reference Service. Retrieved from <https://www.ncjrs.gov/>.

Outline

1. Introduction
2. Main Body:
   1. Megan’s Law: What, Why, and How
   2. Importance of Research in Criminology
   3. Limitations in the Study and Possible Improvements
3. Conclusions