Citation

O'reilly MF. Howard J. Crim. Just. (2016) 2018; 57(2): 204-230.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, The Howard League, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/hojo.12256

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

When it comes to offenders, none stand so loathed in the public mind as sex offenders. So when it comes time for such offenders to be released, policies within the criminal justice sphere have focused upon managing potential risks in the name of public protection. In recent times one issue that remains particularly contentious is that of disclosure of information about sex offenders, particularly public access to such information. This is part of a larger issue as to whether sex offenders are ever allowed to move on with their lives following a conviction. Post-release management of offenders aims to enhance public safety, but it also affects the idea that once an offender has served their sentence, the criminal justice system no longer has any claim over them. With this issue in mind, this article aims to examine current policy and debates in Ireland on the issue of disclosure in light of policy changes elsewhere. Rather than definitively answer the question posed in the title, the article seeks to explore how disclosure of information could serve to perpetuate the idea of 'once an offender, always an offender', thus rendering it impossible to move to a narrative of reintegration and rehabilitation.

Language: en

Keywords

disclosure; reintegration; risk management; sex offenders; stigma