This exploratory mixed-methods study utilized data from 101 semi-structured interviews and a nati... more This exploratory mixed-methods study utilized data from 101 semi-structured interviews and a nationwide survey (n = 765) to examine law enforcement perspectives on sex offender compliance with registration obligations. Specifically, law enforcement views were explored regarding the definitions and frequency of non-compliance, its underlying reasons or causes, and challenges and practices relating to its detection and management. Findings indicated that defining sex offender non-compliance with registration mandates is no simple task, but underscored the need to differentiate between purposeful and intentional forms of non-compliance and those that are less so. Data also support prior research indicating that few sex offenders truly abscond, and that most non-compliers are easily located. Detection of registration violators occurs through a number of means, and officers rely on community members, fellow law enforcement agents, and supervision partners to help monitor and manage their registrants. Variation exists between and within jurisdictions in terms of definitions , compliance management practices, and enforcement strategies. Translated into the domains of policy and practice, findings suggest that, rather than framing non-compliance under a single umbrella of Bfailure to register,^ law enforcement efforts might be enhanced through improved typologies of non-compliance that can help to prioritize the use of enforcement resources.
A growing body of research has examined the collateral effects of sex offender registration and n... more A growing body of research has examined the collateral effects of sex offender registration and notification (SORN), particularly those related to offenders' social and economic reintegration into society. Although studies have examined public, offender, treatment provider, and other criminal justice perspectives on SORN's collateral impacts, few have elicited the views of law enforcement (LE) professionals who have contact with registered offenders. This study presents results from a mixed method study examining LE perspectives on collateral consequences and effectiveness of SORN. Results indicate that, although overall LE concern regarding collateral impacts is limited, those who are most engaged in SORN-related duties are significantly more likely to indicate such concern, and also more likely to believe that SORN was an effective public safety tool. Importantly, respondents in states with larger registries expressed greater concern over collateral consequences, and less belief in SORN's public safety efficacy. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Since the 1990s, sex offender registration and notification (SORN) has assumed a prominent place ... more Since the 1990s, sex offender registration and notification (SORN) has assumed a prominent place on state and federal crime control agendas in the United States. Although researchers have examined many aspects of SORN policies and systems, relatively little is known about how SORN is used, perceived, and experienced by law enforcement professionals in the context of their work. This article presents findings from a mixed-method study, consisting of face-to-face interviews and a national online survey of police and sheriff agencies. We examined law enforcement views on SORN's general functions and efficacy, barriers to SORN effectiveness, and recommendations for SORN-related policy. Results highlight the challenges associated with SORN's various functions as a law enforcement information tool, as an offender monitoring mechanism, and as a conduit of public information. They also indicate differences between the perspectives of agency leadership and those on the front lines of registry enforcement and management, as well as a range of concerns associated with the reliability and utility of registry information, inter-system communication, registrant homelessness and transience, and the public's capacity to understand registry information. Implications for policy reform and for SORN-related research are discussed.
This article examines the historical and contextual factors that are related to the growing numbe... more This article examines the historical and contextual factors that are related to the growing numbers of persons with mental illness who are processed through the criminal justice system. The paper discuss five major mental health and criminal justice policies that frame the challenges associated with the mentally ill in the criminal justice system: deinstitutionalization (a shift in the locus of care from the state hospital to community-based treatment agencies); mental health law reform (notably more stringent criteria for involuntary admission to a psychiatric facility); fragmented care (little coordination between mental health and other treatment providers); drug enforcement (the war on drugs that resulted in the arrests of the mentally ill who use illicit substances); and public-order policing (the enforcement of arrest policies that target nuisance crimes). The article also presents recommendations for responding more effectively to the problems of the mentally ill in the crimi...
ABSTRACT The processing of people with serious mental illness (PWMI) through the criminal justice... more ABSTRACT The processing of people with serious mental illness (PWMI) through the criminal justice system is widespread and often occurs when mental health services are unavailable or difficult to access. In such instances, police, court, and jail procedures have become default mechanisms for handling criminal cases that include mentally ill individuals, especially those who are perceived as recalcitrant or dangerous. The current article focuses on how PWMI affect police operations. The article is divided into four sections. The first section discusses the factors that have led to an influx of mentally ill individuals into the criminal justice system. The second section describes police contacts with PWMI and the limited options that officers face when seeking to resolve, successfully, service calls that involve the mentally ill. The third section examines police training and specialised programmes that have been implemented in order to help police officers respond more effectively to the problems of the mentally ill. The final section offers suggestions for improving police services for PWMI.
Sexual abuse : a journal of research and treatment, 2014
The presumed dangers presented by sex offenders who have absconded from authorities have played a... more The presumed dangers presented by sex offenders who have absconded from authorities have played a prominent role in public discourse surrounding state and federal sex offender management policy. The current study is the first to empirically investigate the characteristics of absconded sex offenders and explore how this group compares to other groups of sex offenders. Utilizing data from the Florida sex offender registry (N = 23,557), this exploratory study compares the characteristics and risk factors of absconders with those of compliant and noncompliant (nonabsconding) registrants as well as with those with convictions for failure to register (FTR). Absconders, as a group, were less likely than compliant registrants to be listed as predators, and less likely than both compliants and noncompliants to have a minor victim or to be a repeat sex offender. Absconders were also least likely to have a prior FTR conviction, but those with a previous FTR conviction were more likely to absco...
The purpose of this study was to better understand transient (homeless) sex offenders
in the co... more The purpose of this study was to better understand transient (homeless) sex offenders
in the context of residence restriction laws. Using the entire population of registered
sex offenders (RSOs) living in the community in Florida (n = 23,523), transients were
compared with other sex offenders on relevant demographics, risk factors, county
characteristics, and residence restriction variables. Significantly higher proportions
of transient sex offenders were found in counties with a larger number of local-level
restrictions, vast territory covered by these laws, wide-distance buffer zones, higher
population density, and expensive housing costs. Sex offenders were more likely
than the general population to become homeless. Transients were more likely than
non-transients to have a history of registry violation. Few transients absconded, but
when they did, they were more likely to abscond from registration than probation.
When implementing sex offender management policies, lawmakers should consider
transience as an unintended negative consequence
This exploratory mixed-methods study utilized data from 101 semi-structured interviews and a nati... more This exploratory mixed-methods study utilized data from 101 semi-structured interviews and a nationwide survey (n = 765) to examine law enforcement perspectives on sex offender compliance with registration obligations. Specifically, law enforcement views were explored regarding the definitions and frequency of non-compliance, its underlying reasons or causes, and challenges and practices relating to its detection and management. Findings indicated that defining sex offender non-compliance with registration mandates is no simple task, but underscored the need to differentiate between purposeful and intentional forms of non-compliance and those that are less so. Data also support prior research indicating that few sex offenders truly abscond, and that most non-compliers are easily located. Detection of registration violators occurs through a number of means, and officers rely on community members, fellow law enforcement agents, and supervision partners to help monitor and manage their registrants. Variation exists between and within jurisdictions in terms of definitions , compliance management practices, and enforcement strategies. Translated into the domains of policy and practice, findings suggest that, rather than framing non-compliance under a single umbrella of Bfailure to register,^ law enforcement efforts might be enhanced through improved typologies of non-compliance that can help to prioritize the use of enforcement resources.
A growing body of research has examined the collateral effects of sex offender registration and n... more A growing body of research has examined the collateral effects of sex offender registration and notification (SORN), particularly those related to offenders' social and economic reintegration into society. Although studies have examined public, offender, treatment provider, and other criminal justice perspectives on SORN's collateral impacts, few have elicited the views of law enforcement (LE) professionals who have contact with registered offenders. This study presents results from a mixed method study examining LE perspectives on collateral consequences and effectiveness of SORN. Results indicate that, although overall LE concern regarding collateral impacts is limited, those who are most engaged in SORN-related duties are significantly more likely to indicate such concern, and also more likely to believe that SORN was an effective public safety tool. Importantly, respondents in states with larger registries expressed greater concern over collateral consequences, and less belief in SORN's public safety efficacy. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Since the 1990s, sex offender registration and notification (SORN) has assumed a prominent place ... more Since the 1990s, sex offender registration and notification (SORN) has assumed a prominent place on state and federal crime control agendas in the United States. Although researchers have examined many aspects of SORN policies and systems, relatively little is known about how SORN is used, perceived, and experienced by law enforcement professionals in the context of their work. This article presents findings from a mixed-method study, consisting of face-to-face interviews and a national online survey of police and sheriff agencies. We examined law enforcement views on SORN's general functions and efficacy, barriers to SORN effectiveness, and recommendations for SORN-related policy. Results highlight the challenges associated with SORN's various functions as a law enforcement information tool, as an offender monitoring mechanism, and as a conduit of public information. They also indicate differences between the perspectives of agency leadership and those on the front lines of registry enforcement and management, as well as a range of concerns associated with the reliability and utility of registry information, inter-system communication, registrant homelessness and transience, and the public's capacity to understand registry information. Implications for policy reform and for SORN-related research are discussed.
This article examines the historical and contextual factors that are related to the growing numbe... more This article examines the historical and contextual factors that are related to the growing numbers of persons with mental illness who are processed through the criminal justice system. The paper discuss five major mental health and criminal justice policies that frame the challenges associated with the mentally ill in the criminal justice system: deinstitutionalization (a shift in the locus of care from the state hospital to community-based treatment agencies); mental health law reform (notably more stringent criteria for involuntary admission to a psychiatric facility); fragmented care (little coordination between mental health and other treatment providers); drug enforcement (the war on drugs that resulted in the arrests of the mentally ill who use illicit substances); and public-order policing (the enforcement of arrest policies that target nuisance crimes). The article also presents recommendations for responding more effectively to the problems of the mentally ill in the crimi...
ABSTRACT The processing of people with serious mental illness (PWMI) through the criminal justice... more ABSTRACT The processing of people with serious mental illness (PWMI) through the criminal justice system is widespread and often occurs when mental health services are unavailable or difficult to access. In such instances, police, court, and jail procedures have become default mechanisms for handling criminal cases that include mentally ill individuals, especially those who are perceived as recalcitrant or dangerous. The current article focuses on how PWMI affect police operations. The article is divided into four sections. The first section discusses the factors that have led to an influx of mentally ill individuals into the criminal justice system. The second section describes police contacts with PWMI and the limited options that officers face when seeking to resolve, successfully, service calls that involve the mentally ill. The third section examines police training and specialised programmes that have been implemented in order to help police officers respond more effectively to the problems of the mentally ill. The final section offers suggestions for improving police services for PWMI.
Sexual abuse : a journal of research and treatment, 2014
The presumed dangers presented by sex offenders who have absconded from authorities have played a... more The presumed dangers presented by sex offenders who have absconded from authorities have played a prominent role in public discourse surrounding state and federal sex offender management policy. The current study is the first to empirically investigate the characteristics of absconded sex offenders and explore how this group compares to other groups of sex offenders. Utilizing data from the Florida sex offender registry (N = 23,557), this exploratory study compares the characteristics and risk factors of absconders with those of compliant and noncompliant (nonabsconding) registrants as well as with those with convictions for failure to register (FTR). Absconders, as a group, were less likely than compliant registrants to be listed as predators, and less likely than both compliants and noncompliants to have a minor victim or to be a repeat sex offender. Absconders were also least likely to have a prior FTR conviction, but those with a previous FTR conviction were more likely to absco...
The purpose of this study was to better understand transient (homeless) sex offenders
in the co... more The purpose of this study was to better understand transient (homeless) sex offenders
in the context of residence restriction laws. Using the entire population of registered
sex offenders (RSOs) living in the community in Florida (n = 23,523), transients were
compared with other sex offenders on relevant demographics, risk factors, county
characteristics, and residence restriction variables. Significantly higher proportions
of transient sex offenders were found in counties with a larger number of local-level
restrictions, vast territory covered by these laws, wide-distance buffer zones, higher
population density, and expensive housing costs. Sex offenders were more likely
than the general population to become homeless. Transients were more likely than
non-transients to have a history of registry violation. Few transients absconded, but
when they did, they were more likely to abscond from registration than probation.
When implementing sex offender management policies, lawmakers should consider
transience as an unintended negative consequence
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in the context of residence restriction laws. Using the entire population of registered
sex offenders (RSOs) living in the community in Florida (n = 23,523), transients were
compared with other sex offenders on relevant demographics, risk factors, county
characteristics, and residence restriction variables. Significantly higher proportions
of transient sex offenders were found in counties with a larger number of local-level
restrictions, vast territory covered by these laws, wide-distance buffer zones, higher
population density, and expensive housing costs. Sex offenders were more likely
than the general population to become homeless. Transients were more likely than
non-transients to have a history of registry violation. Few transients absconded, but
when they did, they were more likely to abscond from registration than probation.
When implementing sex offender management policies, lawmakers should consider
transience as an unintended negative consequence
in the context of residence restriction laws. Using the entire population of registered
sex offenders (RSOs) living in the community in Florida (n = 23,523), transients were
compared with other sex offenders on relevant demographics, risk factors, county
characteristics, and residence restriction variables. Significantly higher proportions
of transient sex offenders were found in counties with a larger number of local-level
restrictions, vast territory covered by these laws, wide-distance buffer zones, higher
population density, and expensive housing costs. Sex offenders were more likely
than the general population to become homeless. Transients were more likely than
non-transients to have a history of registry violation. Few transients absconded, but
when they did, they were more likely to abscond from registration than probation.
When implementing sex offender management policies, lawmakers should consider
transience as an unintended negative consequence