Sex Offender Management and Risk Assessment

Most people who are convicted of sex offenses are eventually released back into the community. Sex offender risk assessment and management policies attempt to understand and reduce the risk that these individuals may pose to others. For example, California mandates lifetime GPS tracking of convicted sex offenders. Many jurisdictions use regular polygraph assessments to evaluate offenders’ acceptance of past crimes and to determine whether they may be committing new crimes. And some communities have adopted restorative-justice methods to help high-risk offenders with little community support to reintegrate safely into the community. As part of these diverse efforts, many jurisdictions classify offenders into risk tiers and use targeted management practices based on risk level.

What is the best way to determine the risk posed by released sex offenders? What methods can law enforcement or communities use to reduce the risk of reoffenses? Do the existing sex offender management and risk assessment laws serve their intended purpose? NIJ supports studies that seek to answer these questions. Such evidence can help us spend enforcement dollars wisely, keep communities safe, and help offenders reintegrate into society.

Final reports

Date Created: August 19, 2014