Megan’S Law 20 Years Later: An Empirical Analysis And Policy Review

Keywords

general recidivism; Megan’s Law; sex offender registration and notification; sex offenders; sexual recidivism

Abstract

This present study examines the sexual and general recidivism rates of 547 convicted sex offenders released before and after the enactment of Megan’s Law in New Jersey. Presenting the longest Megan’s Law evaluation, participants were followed for an average of 15 years after release (range = 10-29 years). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression equations were estimated to identify covariates significantly associated with both sexual and general recidivism. Group-based trajectories of general recidivism within the 10 years post–prison release were also estimated and compared according to pre–Megan’s Law and post–Megan’s Law release status. No differences in recidivism rates were noted between the cohorts, but differences emerged in the offending trajectories of the high-risk group of offenders within 10 years of release. These results highlight the lack of impact that sex offender registration and notification (SORN) laws have on sexual and general reoffending rates postrelease.

Publication Date

7-1-2018

Publication Title

Criminal Justice and Behavior

Volume

45

Issue

7

Number of Pages

1028-1046

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854818771409

Socpus ID

85047441677 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85047441677

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