Implemented in the 1990's as a means of enhancing community awareness of sex offenders to promote community safety, little is known about the consequences of the policies and practices of sex offender registration for the offender. This study presents an initial assessment of the way that listing on a sex offender registry is experienced by, and leads to collateral consequences for convicted sex offenders. An anonymous questionnaire was mailed to offenders listed on the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry. The final study sample consisted of 795 sex offenders. The questionnaire included questions on demographics and offense characteristics, and whether the offender was recognized as a registered sex offender and attitudes concerning registries, as well the registration experience. Results indicate that sex offenders listed on the sex offender registry in Kentucky do report a large number of negative experiences arising from public knowledge of their registration and offenses. More than one-third of the registrants reported losing a job, losing or being denied a place to live, being treated rudely in public, losing at least one friend, and being personally harassed due to their registration as a sex offender. In conclusion, collateral consequences of sex offender registration as a criminal sanction may be quite serious and harmful for individual offenders, their families, and for communities in general. References