https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-010-9096-9

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The Prevalence and Correlates of Depression and Hopelessness among Sex Offenders Subject to Community Notification and Residence Restriction Legislation

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2012

Abstract

Little research has investigated the prevalence of mood disturbance among sex offenders despite the fact that psychological distress may bear some relationship to community reintegration, and ultimately, recidivism. All offenders on New Jersey’s sex offender Internet registry were mailed surveys about their experiences with, and perceptions of, notification and residence restriction statutes, the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). On average, respondents (N = 104) reported mild to moderate levels of depressive symptoms (M BDI = 17.1) and hopelessness (M BHS = 6.9). Additionally, offenders who reported being negatively affected by residence restrictions and notification statutes reported higher levels of both depression and hopelessness. Given evidence that sex offender specific legislation may de-stabilize offenders, this research highlights the importance of managing affective states in this population.

Publication

American Journal of Criminal Justice

Publisher

Springer Science & Business Media

City/State

Louisville, KY

Volume

37

Issue

1

Pages

46-59

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

Peer Reviewed

1

Publication History

Received 06 December 2009 | Accepted 05 September 2010 | Published 07 January 2011 | Issue Date March 2012

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