ABSTRACT
Recent research points to the fact that sex offender registration has collateral consequences for those who are placed on the registry. Little is known about female sex offenders, particularly their thoughts about what will happen to them once they are released from prison. This study adds to what is known about sex offender perceptions of the registry. Forty-one incarcerated female sex offenders were interviewed to assess their perceptions of what they would face once released and returned to the community including their potential placement on the sex offender registry. Results indicate that female sex offenders believed they would face challenges in housing and employment and were fearful of being stigmatized as ‘sexual predators’ regardless of their actual conviction. In contrast, the women were hopeful that they could have positive family relationships. Study implications and limitations are also discussed.
