U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Sex Offender Community Notification: Assessing the Impact in Wisconsin, Research in Brief
NCJ Number
              179992

Author(s)
          Richard  Zevitz;
                        Mary Ann  Farkas
Date Published

December 2001
Length
              11 pages
Publication Series
          NIJ Research in Brief
Annotation
              Research conducted in Wisconsin in 1998 assessed the perceptions of residents, law enforcement, probation/parole agents, and sex offenders regarding the effects of the State’s community notification law that authorizes officials to alert residents about the release and reintegration of sex offenders in their communities.
Abstract
              Information came from surveys of 704 neighborhood residents at 22 community notification meetings, observations of these meetings, and a statewide survey of police and sheriffs’ agencies, field observations and a statewide survey of probation and parole agents, and personal interviews of 30 convicted sex offenders who were the topics of community notification, news media reports, or both. Results indicated that the public needs additional information about the purpose of notification meetings and the limits of notification laws. The percentage of attendees who left meetings feeling more concerned about the sex offender was nearly equal to the percentage who felt less concerned. Law enforcement agencies experienced few problems carrying out tasks prescribed by the notification law, but the cost of labor resources necessary for notification was an issue. Notification laws increased the workload of probation and parole officers who monitor sex offenders, especially for high-profile Special Bulletin Notification cases. All but one of the sex offenders interviewed stated that the community notification process adversely affected their transition from prison to the outside world. Housing resources for sex offenders released to notification areas were scarce. The analysis concluded that although the law’s primary goal of community protection is being served, law enforcement and corrections agencies bear a high cost in terms of personnel, time, and budgetary resources. Community notification also carries a personal cost for the sex offenders so identified; housing and employment are the most immediate needs. Figures, tables, reference notes, and 5 references
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        98-IJ-CX-0015


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Legislation/Policy Analysis
    
  
  
Date Published: December 1, 2001
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF
                  Text

Related Datasets
        
                      http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR03015
Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Corrections
        Corrections policies
        Costs
        Crime control policies
        Crime prevention



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Developing and Piloting Videogames to Increase College and University Students Awareness and Efficacy of the Bystander Role in Incidents of Sexual Violence
                  Street-Level Decision Making Acceptability, Feasibility, and Use of Evidence-Based Practices in Adult Probation
                  Collateral Consequences and Effectiveness of Sex Offender Registration and Notification: Law Enforcement Perspectives
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov