While there is some research relating to the experiences of individuals on sex offender registries, there is no published data that specifically looks at the experiences of LGBTQ People on the Sex Offender Registry.

Article originally appeared on the Mitigation Aide Research Archive on June 27, 2022.

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The Survey

A new survey was recently published to gather general information regarding all individuals’ experiences of being on the registry as well as to specifically ascertain the experiences of non-cisgendered individuals. 

The online survey collected data from 964 individuals between March and November of 2020. 

Of all respondents, 20% identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer/pansexual and/or transgender. The authors stated that the percentage of LGBTQ people in the sample was almost 4 times greater than the national estimate of LGBTQ people in the US.

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Summarized Data

• 42% of all respondents reported incomes that were below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
• 30% of LGBTQ and 20% of straight cisgender respondents were unemployed.
  • This was at a time when the national unemployment rate was between 4.4% to 14.8%.
• The LGBTQ respondents, when compared to the straight cisgender respondents, more often had three or more victims (17% v 9%).
• Almost half of the LGBTQ individuals had a victim who were images vs. less than ¼ of the straight cisgender adults
• 64% of all respondents reported dissatisfaction with their defense
• Over half of all respondents were incarcerated but more LGBTQ individuals were incarcerated than straight cisgender respondents.  (65% v 53%).
• 10% of the LGBTQ individuals reported that the mandated psychological treatment they attended included elements that are known as conversion therapy.
• 66% of all respondents reported being verbally insulted or abused, 45% reported being threatened with violence and 37% were robbed or vandalized and most attributed the motivation for the attacks to their being on the registry. 
• Lifetime suicidality rates are very high (71% total) with LGBTQ people reported a prevalence of 77% versus 69% for cisgender straight respondents. 
• Over half of all respondents reported having supportive family or friends who help them (LGBTQ 59%; cisgender 66%)

Are you looking for more reputable, data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.

The Takeaways

What ARE the experiences of LGBTQ People on the Sex Offender Registry?

Overall, the experiences of the LGBTQ persons on the SORNA registry are similar to those of straight, cisgender males.

This study provides implications not necessarily for mitigation at the time of sentencing, but for post-conviction restrictions. As a result of being on the SORNA registry, almost all individuals experience negative consequences beyond their incarceration and probation. 

These negative consequences increase dynamic risk of recidivism. Therefore, less restrictive registry measures would not potentially contribute to an increased risk of recidivism.

Reference: Meyer, I.H., Bouton, L., Maszak-Prato, S, Semple, L. & Lave, T.R. (2022).  LGBTQ People on sex offender registries in the US.  https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/SORS-LGBTQ-May-2022.pdf

Article originally appeared on the Mitigation Aide Research Archive on June 27, 2022.

This post contains affiliate links. The author or blog owner may earn a commission if you make a purchase using these links.

Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.

Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Then you should consult with a professional.

Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.

For an in-depth guide on talking to your adolescents about cybersex and pornography, check out Dr. Jen’s book. Amazon | BookBaby

If you are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, local to the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, and need support a great place to start is the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center.

Need support and not local to the Lehigh Valley? Check out the LGBT National Help Center.

The post Research: LGBTQ People on the Sex Offender Registry first appeared on Dr. Jen's Recovery Readings.

Halloween is at the end of this week. There are a lot of assumptions made about Halloween and Sex Offenders. Let’s take a look at the realities.

Therapists who work with sex offenders know this is the time of year probation officers ask us if we have made sure all of our clients have a plan for Halloween and know they are not to participate in the holiday.

Luckily, the area where our practice is located does not ask for more than our clients to avoid participation. 

In other parts of the country, things are much different.

Halloween and Sex Offenders in the News

The Patch, a national news source, posted multiple articles providing detailed maps showing the homes of registered sex offenders for many areas.

Indiana

A town in Indiana performed a Halloween crackdown sweep of Sex offenders who failed to register. 

Ohio

A news source in Ohio posted an article on how to keep your children safe from sex offenders on Halloween.

Georgia

In Georgia, the Butts County Sheriff’s Office places warning signs in front of the homes of anyone on the sex offender registry for Halloween. Several people on the registry sued the Sheriff’s office and recently lost the lawsuit. The court ruled that this practice did not violate their rights.

In some states, registered offenders still on probation or parole are provided a list of requirements which may include: 

• Being home after a certain time
• Not answering the door to children
• Not handing out candy
• Having no outside lights on
• Having a sign on their door stating specifically they’re not giving out candy

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As professionals, our time is valuable. Dr. Weeks created the Mitigation Aide Research Archive because there isn’t enough focused, data-backed research available in easily digestible formats.

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Halloween and Sex Offenders by the Data

We can all agree that sex crimes against children are profoundly serious and something everyone should work to prevent. 

The question arises whether Halloween is a higher risk day than any other day of the year. To answer this question, Chaffin et al. (2009) conducted a study that analyzed child sex crime rates on Halloween.

The authors analyzed child sex crime victims from 1997 to 2005. The data came from up to 30 states. 

They looked at a span of days that included Halloween as some locations have trick or treat events before or after the actual date of Halloween.

There was a total of 67,307 abuse reports during the Halloween time frame over the 8-year period. 

Struggling with excessive sexual thoughts, urges, or activities that are causing you distress? Take the free, online Sexual Symptom Assessment Scale (SSAS) and get a link to share with your therapist.

Results of the Study

The results of the analysis indicated that for the children who were abused on Halloween, 73% were female and 27% male. 

They were abused primarily by male offenders (94%) who had an average age of 24 years old. 

The main result of this study was that the distribution of sexual offenses against children during the Halloween time period did NOT significantly differ from all other days of the year.

Halloween and sex offenders are not a recipe for increased chances of abuse.

The CDC has reported that children are four times more likely to be killed by a pedestrian/motor vehicle accident on Halloween than any other day of the year.

Are you a professional looking to stay up-to-date with the latest information on, sex addiction, trauma, and mental health news and research? Or maybe you’re looking for continuing education courses?

Stay up-to-date with all of Dr. Jen’s work through her practice’s newsletter!

Looking Beyond Sexual Offenses

The authors of this study also looked at other crimes committed during the Halloween time period. 

The most common types of crime during Halloween are theft, destruction of property and assault.

Vandalism and destruction of property accounted for a significantly greater proportion of the crime around the Halloween time period. 

Sex crimes accounted for a little more than 1% of all Halloween crime and sex crimes against children accounted for less than .2% of Halloween crime incidents. 

Halloween and Sex Offenders: The Realities

We know that the majority of the sexual offenses committed against children are by someone the child knows. We see the results of this study show no increased risk of criminality. Therefore, we can come to the conclusion that scarce resources could be better spent policing other crimes on Halloween such as vandalism.

Extra policing of sexual offenders on the registry during Halloween might make the public feel better or feel that their children are safer. However, it appears that these efforts are more publicity than efficacy in reality. 

Reference: Chaffin, M., Levenson, J., Letourneau, E. & Stern, P. (2009). How safe are trick or treaters? An analysis of child sex crime rates on Halloween. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment. (21) 3, 363-374.

Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Consult with a professional.

Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.

The post The Truth About Halloween and Sex Offenders first appeared on Dr. Jen's Recovery Readings.

Check out our newest webinar about Sex Offender Registries

Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Consult with a professional.

Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.

Do you believe your sexual behaviors are compulsive or harmful to you or others? Then you should take the CSBD-19 free, validated self-assessment tool.

The post Sex Offender Registries: What the data says about effectiveness first appeared on Dr. Jen's Recovery Readings.