Government expert: Seb Henagulph, a consultant at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute and Westgate Correctional Facility
A forensic psychiatrist said there was no clear evidence to show that public sex offender registries result in a reduction in the reoffending rate — and that they could even increase the risk of further crimes.
Seb Henagulph, a consultant at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute and Westgate Correctional Facility, said research showed only about 12 per cent of sex offenders go on to commit a second similar offence.
He added the figure was 22.8 per cent for child sex offenders, but that was still “lower” compared to other offences, including violent and property crimes which have a 40 to 50 per cent reoffending rate.
Dr Henagulph said: “The majority of those on a register would not have gone on to offend anyway and the majority of first-time sexual offences are committed by those with no previous history of sexual offending.
“The California Sex Offender Management Board produced a report in 2008 which noted that of those convicted of a sexual offence only 10 per cent had a previous conviction for a sexual offence.
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