Forced Interactions with Sheriff Deputies Over Time and Their Influence on Stigma and Self Identities Among Individuals Convicted of Sex Crimes

This paper examined the perceptions of convicted sex offenders and their interactions with law enforcement over time. Specifically, we focused on how formal interactions influenced stigma management and self-identity transformation. For decades, scholars have proposed that identities and behaviors often result from interactions with others. Sex offender registration and notification laws force interactions between registrants and police agents for years, if not a lifetime. Given that desistance from sex offending is dependent on prosocial identity transformation, we analyzed interviews with 63 registrants to uncover how interactions with police promote or inhibit identity transformation over time. Our findings suggested interactions with police can influence the internalization of a “sex offender” label, can reaffirm non-offender role identities, but mostly have little to no effect on personal identity transformation over time

An Examination and Comparison of Rationalizations Employed by Solo and Co-Offending Female Sex Offenders

Limited research focuses on the rationalizations utilized by criminal offenders to reduce responsibility for their crimes. This is especially true for sex offenders, more specifically female sex offenders. The manner by which female sex offenders avert responsibility for their crimes may provide insight into their motivations, typologies, and recidivism propensity. This study qualitatively examined how female sex offenders excused or justified their sexual behaviors postconviction, focusing on account variations - a framework proposed by Scott and Lyman. We examined the population of female sex offenders who were convicted in a southern state from 1999 to 2005 (n = 55), and conducted a comparison of female solo and co-offenders\u27 accounts. The results of this study provide a number of policy implications in regard to crime prevention, cognitive-based treatment programs, and risk assessment

Female Sex Offenders: Is There a Difference Between Solo and Co-Offenders?

Studies on female sex offending have been limited for a number of reasons, such as societal perceptions that females are incapable of engaging in such behaviors because of their role as caretakers and nurturers in society. However, over the past few decades, studies examining female sex offenders have increased, revealing that females do commit sexual offenses and differ from their male counterparts. We examined offender, victim, and offense characteristics of female sex offenders who were convicted from 1995 to 2013 (N = 223) in Arkansas and were sentenced to serve time in prison or placed on probation. We focused on the similarities and differences of solo and co-female sex offenders because we know from previous studies that the pathway of offending can differ between solo and co-female offenders, yet few studies have exclusively compared the similarities and differences among female sex offenders. Our data were collected from offender files that included basic personal offender information, offender survey and social history, criminal history, incident reports while incarcerated, court records, police investigation reports, initial offender and victim statements (prior to offender incarceration), and probation/parole reports. We believe the results of this study will provide further insight into the types of female sex offenders as well as the possible differences between co- and solo-offenders in relation to their victim preferences, risk levels, rehabilitation amenability, and recidivism propensities

Forensic Investigation of Sex Crimes and Sexual Offenders

The investigation of sex crimes is a specific function for many law enforcement agencies, requiring an understanding of how to investigate, process crime scenes, interact with victims and offenders, and prepare for court. Drawing on new methods of investigation and the effects of such crimes on victims, Forensic Investigation of Sex Crimes and Sexual Offenders provides in-depth coverage in these areas, offering a valuable supplement for criminal justice courses and an accessible guide for law enforcement.https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/1134/thumbnail.jp