Understanding what works in the police management of child sex offenders in the community
| Author | LS Christensen,S Rayment-McHugh,N McKillop,N Cairns,J Webster |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X211018791 |
| Published date | 01 September 2022 |
| Date | 01 September 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Understanding what works
in the police management
of child sex offenders in the
community
LS Christensen , S Rayment-McHugh,
N McKillop and N Cairns
Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit, School of Law and Society,
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
J Webster
Queensland Police Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Abstract
Police are becoming increasingly responsible for monitoring convicted child sex offen-
ders in the community. A Rapid Evidence Assessment was undertaken to capture ‘what
works’ and what ‘shows promise’ in existing and emerging, innovative policing practices.
A total of 920 searches were performed across five databases, spanning the last 5 years.
After removal of duplicates and those that did not meet inclusion criteria, 61 articles
were analysed. Two key strategies, with sub-strategies, emerged: (1) formalised, tar-
geted management and (2) technology-assisted management. An adapted ‘EMMIE’
framework presents the ‘effects’, the overarching ‘mechanisms’ and ‘moderators’ of
success, and ‘implementation’ considerations for effective practice.
Keywords
Law enforcement, sex offender registration, child sex offender, community
Introduction
There is growing recognition of the extent and impact of sexual violence across the globe
(Mathers et al., 2009; World Health Organization, 2014), which has spurred investment
Corresponding author:
LS Christensen, Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit, School of Law and Society, University of the
Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558, Australia.
Email: lchriste@usc.edu.au
The Police Journal:
Theory, Practice and Principles
ªThe Author(s) 2021
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DOI: 10.1177/0032258X211018791
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2022, Vol. 95(3) 508–536
Christensen et al. 509
into sexual violence prevention and responses. While preventing sexual violence from
occurring in the first place is the best outcome, the elimination of sexual violence is
likely impossible. This means that effective efforts to respond to and prevent recidivism
are necessary and important. Although law enforcement has traditionally played a cen-
tral role in the investigation and arrest of perpetrators, over time police have become
routinely responsible for the monitoring and management of convicted child sex offen-
ders in the community.
With the increase of convicted offenders living in the community, the way child sex
offenders are managed by law enforcement has changed (Day et al., 2016). Policing
roles and subsequent public policies have been implemented across most Western
jurisdictions in an effort to manage the behaviour of known sex offenders in the
community (Day et al., 2014a). This has shifted the focus from traditional policing
duties and philosophies regarding investigation and arrest, towards risk, case, and
resource management approaches more akin to their probation and parole, health, and
community support colleagues (Cubellis et al., 2016; Day, 2014; Kewley, 2017a,
2017b; Nash, 2016).
1
Embodied within this change in duties, law enforcement is accountable for uphold-
ing community safety, while balancing the protection of registered sex offenders’
rights (Gaines, 2006). Tensions between traditional police practices and those required
to operate community based child sex offender registries require exploration to ensure
community mandated management of this offender population is optimised to mini-
mise risks, and prevent further victimisation. This is particularly important when costs
continually inflate with the increase of offenders on the register and respective mon-
itoring (Smallbone and Wortley, 2000), suggesting an ongoing intensification of
resources required to manage an expanding cohort of convicted child sex offenders
in the community.
Purpose of study and research questions
The scale of issues relating to the police management of child sex offenders in the
community is substantial and growing (Day et al., 2016). For example, between 2017–
2018 and 2018–2019 in Australia, sexual assault and related offences had the largest
percentage increase (11%) in defendants finalised in the courts, behind weapons/explo-
sives and robbery/extortion offences (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2019). Given the
growing scale and emerging complexities, there is a strong need for evidence-based
policing. Accordingly, this rapid evidence assessment (REA) was undertaken to inform
policing in this field, with the aim of examining the current evidence in police man-
agement practices with convicted child sex offenders in Western society. Specifically,
the following research questions were addressed: (1) ‘what works’ in the police man-
agement of child sex offenders in the community?; and (2) what ‘shows promise’ in the
police management of child sex offenders in the community? The second research
question sought to capture emerging, innovative approaches. The practical implica-
tions of these findings should enhance police management of convicted child sex
offenders in the community across Western jurisdictions, to reduce offending, and
increase public safety.
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