Michelle L. Meloy

Women's Use of Force: Voices of Women Arrested for Domestic Violence

Following changes in law enforcement policies that encourage or mandate arrest of domestic violence offenders, a concomitant increase inwomen arrested and mandated to batterer treatment programs has resulted. Most research findings, however, suggest that heterosexual intimate violence is gendered, with abuse, power, and control wielded by men over their female partners, and that when women use violence, it is typically in selfdefense or for nonaggressive reasons. However, fewstudies have investigated the female batterer treatment programs and the context of thewomens use of violence. Using qualitative data collected from observations of three female domestic violence offender programs, this article examines womens interpretations of their violent experiences. In addition, the findings raise policy-level questions about the appropriateness of such programs, weighing the costs and benefits of a criminal justice approach to womens use of force in intimate relationships.

The Sex Offender Next Door: An Analysis of Recidivism, Risk Factors, and Deterrence of Sex Offenders on Probation

Nearly 60% of convicted sex offenders serve a term of felony probation or parole. Using data for 917 convicted male sex offenders on probation in 17 states, this study examines the efficacy of community supervision for this population. Offenders’ social demographics and baseline criminality were studied in conjunction with formal and informal social controls to determine their collective deterrent impact. The overall recidivism rate was 16%. However, only 4.5% of offenders committed a new sex crime during probation. Regression analyses indicate that factors readily available to court personnel can accurately predict non-sexual recidivism among sex offenders on probation. However, accurately predicting additional sexual violence proved a more dubious task. The only significant predictor of chronic sex offending was the imposition of a jail term as a condition of probation. Results indicate that under the right set of conditions, probation is the most appropriate criminal sanction for some types of sex offenders.

The sponsors of sex offender bills speak up: policy makers' perceptions of sex offenders, sex crimes, and sex offender legislation

In the first investigation of its kind, a national U.S. sample of state-level policy makers (N = 61) were interviewed about their perceptions of the sexual offenders in their state, their state’s sex offender laws, and collateral consequences of these laws, among other efficacy questions. Respondents were selected nonrandomly, as policy makers who sponsored sex offender bills were deliberately targeted for inclusion in the study. It was presumed these respondents would be more knowledgeable about sex offenders and sex offender laws. Results indicated that most respondents were familiar with the sex offender legislation in their state, that most of the laws were drafted with hopes of increasing public safety, and that policy makers believed their laws were functioning as intended, although empirical data are lacking to support these latter claims. Despite a strong conviction that sex offender laws are necessary to control sexual recidivism, policy makers discussed numerous complications and potentially deleterious effects of their own laws.

Sex Offender Laws in America: Can Panic‐Driven Legislation ever Create Safer Societies?

This paper reviews the legal, social, and political history of sex offender legislation in America and describes how these laws operate at both the federal and state level. A critical analysis, based on the research literature, is conducted on the potential benefits and unintended consequences associated with laws such as sex offender registration, community notification, involuntary civil commitment, mandatory sex offender therapy, and the newest suggestions in sex offender legislation. We then summarize existing sex offender legislation in states that are having the most influence on these laws. Finally, best practices for making the most significant reductions in sexual violence are offered.

The Epidemiology of Violence Against the Elderly Implications for Primary and Secondary Prevention

Although the elderly are generally less likely to become the victims of violent crime compared to younger cohorts, they have unique and somewhat alarming patterns of victimization. This article examines the extant literature on elderly victimization and presents homicide data from the Supplementary Homicide Reports and robbery and assault data from the National Crime Victimization Survey to illuminate the idiosyncratic vulnerabilities elderly individuals have to violence compared to their younger counterparts. In addition, research examining violence that occurs in nursing homes as the result of staff-to-patient assaults and resident-to-resident assaults is also highlighted. Policies aimed at both primary and secondary prevention of violence against the elderly are discussed.

Reducing Injury Through Self-Protection by Elderly Victims of Violence: The Interaction Effects of Gender of Victim and the Victim/Offender Relationship

ABSTRACT The purposes of this paper are twofold: (1) to provide an epidemiological assessment of the differential vulnerability that elders compared to younger victims have to injury as the result of a violent victimization perpetrated by both known and unknown offenders, and (2) to examine the factors most related to injurious outcomes for elderly victims of violence including self-protective behavior. Using robbery and physical assault data from the National Crime Victimization Survey for 1992 through 2000, this paper found that victims 65 years of age and older were much more likely to require medical care for their injuries compared to younger victims. When multivariate models were examined to predict injury, it was found the effects of verbal and/or other passive forms of self-protective behavior decreased the probability of injury for the elderly against both known and unknown offenders. When elders were attacked by strangers, the effects of physical resistance strategies also served to decrease the probability of injury. However, when the offender was known, such as a family member or a friend, the use of physical forms of resistance increased the probability of injury for elderly victims, particularly female victims.

Policy-makers’ perceptions on their sex offender laws: the good, the bad, and the ugly

The views and attitudes that lawmakers have about sexual offenders and sexual victimization can be influential in criminal lawmaking. And given the popularity of sex offender laws, policy-makers are central players in how state justice systems respond to sex crimes. Therefore, state-level policy-makers from across the country, who sponsored and passed at least one sex offender law in their state, (n = 61) were interviewed about sex offenders and sex crimes. Policy-makers believe sex offender laws are too broad. The laws extend to nonviolent offenses, low-risk offenders, and thus dilute the law enforcement potency of sex offender registries. Policy-makers view existing sex offender laws as necessary to enhance public safety and as proof that lawmakers are responding to the needs and concerns of the public. Sex offender laws were also discussed as a source of political capital; a way to help ensure reelection. The sexual victimization of children and the media’s coverage of sex crimes were instrumental in these state-level policy-makers’ decisions to sponsor sex offender laws. Policy and research recommendations are offered.

Do Female Legislators Do It Differently? Sex Offender Lawmaking at the State Level:

This investigation explores sex offender bill sponsorship by male and female legislators from both political parties to determine if female policymakers legislate in a “different voice.” Quantitative results indicate that sex offender bill sponsorship often transcends differences of gender, race, or political affiliation. However, the in-depth qualitative findings revealed that female policymakers viewed sex crimes and sex offender laws more broadly than male legislators noting the multiple contexts in which sexual victimizations occur, and as connected with the larger social problem of violence against women. In comparison, male legislators focused on predatory child molestations as their motivation for sex offender bill sponsorship. Findings suggest that relying only on descriptive statistical analysis to study gender and policymaking, such as voting patterns, is likely to miss subtle, but significant, differences in women’s policymaking.