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- Title
NET-WIDENING IN DELAWARE: THE OVERUSE OF REGISTRATION AND RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR YOUTH WHO COMMIT SEX OFFENSES.
- Authors
Leon, Chrysanthi; Burton, David L.; Alvare, Dana
- Abstract
This article examines recent legislative and judicial changes to Delaware's approach to youth who have sexually offended and contrasts these changes with findings from empirical research. Since the early 1990s, laws related to sex offender registration, penalties for sex offenses, and waiver of adolescents to adult court have all become more stringent; yet, recent research into the youth targeted by these laws demonstrates that they are not comparable to youth who have sexually offended in other states. Delaware's aggressive legislative approach, although softened by judges in practice, has apparently led to net-widening. Placing youth who are at low risk for re-offense in detention and residential treatment, and in public registries, costs the state millions of dollars and undermines public safety. The legislature should revise existing statutes so that many of these youth can be properly treated and supervised in the community.
- Subjects
DELAWARE; JUVENILE offenders; SEX crimes; SEX offenders; EMPIRICAL research; JUVENILE delinquency; PUBLIC safety
- Publication
Widener Law Review, 2011, Vol 17, Issue 1, p127
- ISSN
1933-5555
- Publication type
Article