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National Estimates of Registered Sex Offenders in the United States: Is Double Counting a Problem?

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Abstract

The study of the content and makeup of the national registered sex offender population is in its early stages. Only a handful of studies have been conducted that assess the demographic, offense, and risk profiles of individuals on sex offender registries. This study analyzed data from the national sex offender registry to determine to what extent registered sex offenders were double counted, where they were double counted, and if there were any differences between individuals who were double counted and those who were not. Findings suggest that less than 3 % of the national estimate is double counted and that the individuals flagged as double counted were predominantly from a handful of states.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Marshall Burns, PhD for his time and effort to prepare the data for this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social Work Program, University of Washington, Tacoma 1900 Commerce Street, Box 358425, Tacoma, WA, 98402, USA

    Alissa R. Ackerman

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  1. Alissa R. Ackerman
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Correspondence to Alissa R. Ackerman.

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Ackerman, A.R. National Estimates of Registered Sex Offenders in the United States: Is Double Counting a Problem?. Am J Crim Just 40, 75–88 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-014-9248-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-014-9248-4

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