The Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders Scale: The Development of a Psychometric Assessment Instrument

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the nature of individual attitudes toward sex offenders. Because the term “sex offender” tends to evoke strong emotions, and given that open-ended self reports tend to be highly subjective, particularly in the context of such pointed terminology, this study sought to develop an attitude assessment tool that addresses specific domains found in the literature. Methods: Through a number of iterations, the Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders Scale was developed. Results: Exploratory and subsequent confirmatory factor analyses found a four-factor, 18-item version to best represent the domains of interest. Factor and item characteristics are reported. Conclusions: Replication and extension to other populations appears warranted.

The impact of science-based knowledge on attitudes towards sex offenders

“…However, recidivism rates for sex offenders are highly overestimated by the general public (Sample & Bray, 2006). These existing prejudices appear difficult to dismantle (Church et al, 2008). …”

“…For example, the general public thinks that sex offenders do not deserve treatment and should be punished by incarceration (Church et al, 2008; Kleban & Jeglic, 2011). Attitudes reflect the way people think and feel about others, and expresses a positive or negative tendency towards another being (Johnson, Hughes & Ireland, 2007).…”

Judges' perceptions of sex offender registration, community notification, and residency restrictions.

“…The CATSO scale, as explained by Church et al (2008) The remaining 10 items are not a part of the original CATSO scale; therefore, they do not fall into a particular category; however, the items are to gauge judges' perceptions of the characteristics of sex offenders. The items are to measure the respondents' views on sex offender laws as well as residency restrictions and the beliefs of sex offenders' pasts.…”

“…The seventh question contains the Community Attitudes Towards Sex Offenders (CATSO) scale (Church et al, 2008). The original scale has 18 items for the respondents to answer; however, 10 additional questions were added to the scale making it a total of 28 items in question number 7.…”

“…The CATSO Scale (Church et al, 2008) has been used to try grasping a further understanding of the attitudes and beliefs of the criminal justice actors, who have daily contact with offenders, toward the sex offender registration and community notification laws and residency restrictions. With the exception of law enforcement officials (Tewksbury & Mustaine, 2013), the CATSO scale has been found not to be an efficient method for studying the perceptions of community corrections professionals (Conley et al, 2011, Tewksbury et al, 2011), prison wardens (Connor, 2012, and parole board members ; the same falls true for judges.…”