Life on “the List” is a Life Lived in Fear: Post-Conviction Traumatic Stress in Men Convicted of Sexual Offenses

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a rapid expansion of increasingly restrictive laws managing the post release behavior and movement of individuals convicted of sexual offenses. In the US, this legislation has led to many barriers for people returning to their community as “registered sex offenders.” We consider the often ignored but undeniable traumagenic impact of life on “the list” and conceptualize this experience as Post-Conviction Traumatic Stress. We present a qualitative content analysis of secondary data collected from interviews with over 70 men. Emergent themes were first organized according to the human needs identified in Maslow’s hierarchy, and then by the established symptoms of PTSD, and finally in terms of resilient coping versus traumatic coping when basic human needs were unmet. We discuss the unexplored impact of traumatic instability on risk for recidivism and present recommendations for trauma-informed policies and practices with individuals required to register as “sex offenders.”

"I'm Not Unemployed, I'm Unemployable": Challenges Finding and Sustaining Work for People Required to Register as Sex Offenders

“…The high prevalence of mental health concerns, particularly depression, hopelessness, and suicidal intent, prompted Harris and Levenson (2021) to propose a new mental health diagnosis, Post-Conviction Traumatic Stress. Harris and Levenson (2021) studied interview data from seventy ICSOs, noting that SORNA laws and restrictions created an environment in which ICSOs struggled to meet their basic human needs, causing symptoms consistent with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). ICSOs reported engaging in fear and isolation-based coping strategies due to their symptoms, paranoia, hyper-vigilance, and proactive isolation (Harris and Levenson, 2021).…”

Narrativer og selvforståelse om tilbakefall til seksuallovbrudd

“…Blant annet praktiserer enkelte land (f. eks USA og Storbritannia) oppføring av dømte i registre som ofte er tilgjengelig for allmennheten, og løslatte pålegges å varsle naboer, boligeiere og arbeidsgivere om at de er dømt for seksuallovbrudd. Forskning har hittil ikke klart å påvise noen tilbakefallsforebyggende effekt av disse lovene, tvert imot har man funnet at de har negativ effekt på den løslattes psykologiske velvaere, sosiale nettverk og muligheten for å finne arbeid, og at de bidrar til å opprettholde stigmatisering (Harris & Levenson, 2021).…”

Supporting Those Who Love the Loathed: Trauma-Informed Support Groups for Family Members of Registered Sex Offenders

“…Our members had experienced trauma: unexpected and life-altering experiences over which they had little control, which threatened their sense of well-being, and which challenged their normal coping abilities (Bloom, 2013). Many family members of RSOs described intrusive thoughts, avoidance of triggers, negative thinking and emotions, emotional dysregulation, fear, and persistent hypervigilance-all of which characterize symptomatology of post-conviction traumatic stress (Harris & Levenson, 2020). Thus, trauma-informed groupwork can be a promising alternative to traditional therapy services.…”

“…Crime creates trauma for victims, defendants, and the circles of support surrounding them, all of whom have a unique experience of the event and its impact on their life (SAMHSA, 2014). There is an emerging consensus about the need for trauma-informed services for persons involved with criminal justice and correctional systems (Harris & Levenson, 2020; Kubiak et al, 2017; Levenson et al, 2017; Pettus-Davis et al, 2019).…”