Considering specialization/versatility as an unintended collateral consequence of SORN
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2014
Abstract
Purpose: Empirical studies examining specialization/versatility among offenders have long been an area of interest among criminologists. This same focus has only relatively recently been directed toward sex offenders. Methods: Utilize matched random samples of male sex offenders released from prison pre- and post-Sex Offender Registration and Notification (SORN) in the state of New Jersey with eight years of follow-up for measuring recidivism. Results: Various specialization thresholds and individualized diversity index (D) scores disaggregated by recidivism offense type (e.g., violent, property, drug, and sex offenses) suggest that these sex offenders were more diverse than specialized. Furthermore, Tobit regression analysis revealed that alcohol problems, being a rapist, being a prior violent offender, and recidivism offense frequency significantly predicted versatility compared with being married and being a prior property offender, which were inversely related to versatility. Finally, sex offenders who were released from prison post-SORN demonstrated a higher level of specialization than sex offenders who were released from prison pre-SORN, yet their tendency toward specialization was almost exclusively a function of drug offenses not sex offenses. Conclusions: SORN policy implications and directions for future research are discussed. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
Recommended Citation
Jennings, Wesley G.; Zgoba, Kristen M.; Donner, Christopher M.; Henderson, Brandy B.; and Tewksbury, Richard, "Considering specialization/versatility as an unintended collateral consequence of SORN" (2014). College of Humanities and Social Sciences. 338.
https://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/college_humanities_social_sciences/338