Citation

Thomas T. Howard J. Crim. Just. 2009; 48(3): 257-266.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Howard League for Penal Reform, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1468-2311.2009.00566.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The sex offender register requires offenders to notify the police every time their circumstances change. This notification requirement continues for time periods dependent on the severity of sentence received; some offenders are subject to a lifetime's registration. This article considers the basis of these time periods and the necessity of introducing a form of appeal to allow revision or suspension of the registration requirement for people unlikely to reoffend. Without such a form of judicial oversight the register could just become a meaningless ritual for many low‐risk offenders who could be in danger of silting up the register and distracting from work with high‐risk offenders.