Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Criminal Justice and Criminology
Date of Award
5-2017
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Chris Rush
Committee Members
Jennifer Pealer, Nicole Prior
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to extend current knowledge regarding law enforcement’s perceptions of sex offenders. Law enforcement’s views of sex offenders and the fairness and efficacy of sex offender laws were examined through the utilization of a 60 closed-ended question survey. The survey included questions about sex offender myths, sex offender laws, police officers’ experience in working with sex offenders, specialized training, and demographics. The sample consisted of 74 sworn police officers from a Southeastern state. The results showed that, despite having a mostly empirical based view of sex offenders, sworn police officers were likely to support sex offender laws shown by some scholars to be ineffective in reducing crime and at times counterproductive.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Aparcero-Suero, Maria, "Law Enforcement Officers’ Perceptions in Regard to Sex Offenders, SORN, and Residency Restrictions Laws" (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3197. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3197
Copyright
Copyright by the author.