Is criminal justice policy in respect to prisons and sex offender Essay

Is criminal justice policy in respect to prisons and sex offender notification based upon research evidence or populist considerations. Discuss in relation to - Essay Example ted sex offenders convicted, under custodial or community sentence or those released back to the community but remain under correctional supervision are required to inform local law enforcement of their identity and conviction or supervision as sex offenders (Plotnikoff & Woolfson, 2000; National Offender Management Service [NOMS], 2006). Though there is no denying the value of the objective of the provisions there has also been equal concern that the provisions contravene human and civil rights as well as prevent the social integration of previous offenders contravening correction efforts (Thomas, 2003; Grubin & Prentky, 1993). One element of this debate is based on the validity and effectiveness of the provisions: whether they can are based on research or populist considerations. The reinforcement of research evidence is critical in ensuring confidence in the measures while the latter would support social relevance of provisions (Jenkins, 1995). However, Baron (2003) believes that though sex offender notification is driven by either research or populist sentiments, there is a need to determine what is of greater influence to be able to ascertain whether requirements do not undermine the rights of offenders in the process. The idea of offenders, not only for sexual-related crime, being required to disclose their movements or to be subject to monitoring is a means of enhancing the ability of law enforcement to ensure compliance with release requirements, prevent recidivism and to develop a reference for possible suspects in the sex crimes with no known perpetrators (Knock et al, 2002; Matravers, 2003). The practice is not a new of unique to the U.K.: the history of the use of markers to denote offenders and their crime has been a practice among society to reinforce the censure for the crime committed and to communicate social consequence (Home Office, 2002). These include permanent marking of offenders via tattoos, prescription or restriction of residence or the