Source: (2008) Prison Service Journal. 178:26-36.
Sexual offenders are unwelcome in virtually every
community. The mere thought that such a person
might possibly move to one’s community inflames
negative public sentiment beyond seemingly
every other contemporary social issue. Until
recently, some released sexual offenders in Florida
were living under bridges. Now, they have been
evicted from even those locations. In other
jurisdictions, there is virtually no place within city
limits that is not within 1,000 feet of a park,
school, daycare, or community centre. As a society,
we are slowly but surely banning sexual offenders
from our midst. We are forcing sexual offenders
into lives of secrecy. However, given that secrecy
is a hallmark of sexual offending, are we, in our
haste to rid ourselves of these people, potentially
making the situation worse? (author’s abstract)
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