Research Summary The present study is an experimental evaluation of day reporting centers (DRCs) as an alternative to incarceration for medium‐ and high‐risk parolees in New Jersey. Male parolees (N = 355) were randomly assigned to a DRC condition or regular parole supervision (the Control condition) for a period of 90 days. Short‐ and long‐term outcomes were examined. The data show that DRC participants were more likely to be arrested and convicted for a new offense in the short term compared to the Control group. DRC participants’ median time to new arrest was 99 days shorter than Control group parolees; however, this difference was not significant. No differences were found between the groups in the long term. Policy Implications Parolees assigned to a DRC fare as well, and in some instances worse, than parolees on regular parole supervision. Given the relative costs associated with each form of supervision, it is not advisable to use the DRC model as an alternative to incarceration for medium‐ and high‐risk parolees.

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Despite societal perception that sex offenders will repeat their crimes, research indicates these offenders are more likely to be generalists than sex offense-specific offenders. Sex offender-specific legislation has reinforced this erroneous perception while contributing to the excessive labeling of sex offenders as sexual recidivists. Additionally troubling is the lack of research on the efficacy of generalized risk/needs assessments for sex offenders. The present study fills this void by evaluating the adequacy of the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) for use with a sexual offending population. The predictive accuracy of the LSI-R for sexual and nonsexual recidivism outcomes was explored using a sample of 21,298 individuals released from New Jersey correctional facilities from 2004 to 2006. Results indicate that while the LSI-R does not have predictive utility for sexual offenses, it has utility for sex offenders overall. Policy implications of the usefulness of the LSI-R for this offending population are discussed.

The present study examines public knowledge and use of a sexual offender Internet registry in New Jersey. A 20-item random digit dial telephone survey of 1,016 New Jersey residents was completed to determine public awareness and use of the New Jersey Sex Offender Internet Registry (NJSOIR). Approximately 51% of respondents reported knowledge of the NJSOIR, while 17% had accessed the site. Of those who accessed the site, 68% took some preventive measure based on the information they obtained. Logistic regression analyses demonstrate that ethnicity, education, and Internet access were associated with residents' knowledge of the NJSOIR, while sex, race, education, being the parent/caregiver of a child below 18 years of age, and access to the Internet were associated with respondents' likelihood to visit the registry website. These results suggest that an intervention that will increase public awareness of sex offender registries and provide specific preventive measures the public can take is needed.

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