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Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood? The Effects of Community Notification on the Community

NCJ Number
208884
Journal
Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: Fall 2004 Pages: 1-14
Author(s)
Mary Southwick; Stephen Rubin
Editor(s)
William U. Weiss
Date Published
2004
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effects of community notification on community members in relation to anxiety and fear based on the quality of notification.
Abstract
Today, community notification of sex offenders is being practiced in all 50 States. The primary goal of notification is to inform and not to increase fear. However, despite the widespread use and popularity of community notification, little research has been conducted on the effects that community notification might have on sex offenders, their families, and the community. This study attempted to determine whether the quality of notification, in terms of the amount and type of information included, would have a differential effect on anxiety in different segments of the population. Participants in this study consisted of 104 male and female students and employees of a small school in Eastern Washington. A brief questionnaire was designed to measure the participant’s anxiety in response to one of two mock notification flyers. While filling out the questionnaire participants were to keep in mind how he or she would feel if the notification was real. The results indicate that the type of notification does not significantly increase anxiety in the general population. However, law enforcement needs to exercise caution when releasing sensitive information to the community. References and appendixes A-C