Sexual Offender Notification within the University of Arizona Community

• Main Author: Randle, Devin Brooke
• Language: en
• Published: The University of Arizona. 2012
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/244490

When a sexual offender is released from jail or prison, certain guidelines and rehabilitative goals must be met. In large part, this is exercised through the Sexual Offender Notification System. This study seeks to obtain empirical data surrounding the University students reaction to the Sexual Offender Notification System, specifically that of the undergraduate population. Data on one hundred and ninety-six undergraduate participants' prior experiences with and exposure to sexual offenders have been collected along with their affective and behavioral reactions that may occur upon receiving a Sexual Offender Notification. In total, there were 476 acts of prior exposure, 41 acts of which were deemed "personal exposure". The highest endorsed emotions were disgust, anger, and distrust, and the most common behavioral reactions were increasing home security, educating cohabitants, and installing a new alarm system, with females being more likely to discuss safety, install an alarm, and take a self-defense course. Surprisingly, there was no correlation between prior exposure to sexual offenders and affective or behavioral reactions upon receiving a notification.