TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychological mechanisms underlying support for juvenile sex offender registry laws
T2 - Prototypes, moral outrage, and perceived threat
AU - Salerno, Jessica M.
AU - Najdowski, Cynthia J.
AU - Stevenson, Margaret C.
AU - Wiley, Tisha R.A.
AU - Bottoms, Bette L.
AU - Vaca, Roberto
AU - Pimentel, Pamela S.
PY - 2010/1
Y1 - 2010/1
N2 - In three studies, we investigated support for applying sex offender registry laws to juveniles. Family law attorneys supported registry laws less for juveniles than for adults. Laypeople and prosecutors supported juvenile and adult sex offender registration equally-even though they perceived juveniles as generally less threatening than adults (Study 1)-because most people spontaneously envision a severe sex offender prototype regardless of offender age (Study 2). People are less supportive of registry laws, however, when they envision less severe prototypes spontaneously (Study 2) or when induced to do so (Study 3). Effects of offender age, offender prototypes, and offense severity were mediated by perceptions of threat posed by the juvenile sex offender (i.e., utilitarian concerns). The effect of offense severity was also mediated by moral outrage (i.e., retributive concerns).
AB - In three studies, we investigated support for applying sex offender registry laws to juveniles. Family law attorneys supported registry laws less for juveniles than for adults. Laypeople and prosecutors supported juvenile and adult sex offender registration equally-even though they perceived juveniles as generally less threatening than adults (Study 1)-because most people spontaneously envision a severe sex offender prototype regardless of offender age (Study 2). People are less supportive of registry laws, however, when they envision less severe prototypes spontaneously (Study 2) or when induced to do so (Study 3). Effects of offender age, offender prototypes, and offense severity were mediated by perceptions of threat posed by the juvenile sex offender (i.e., utilitarian concerns). The effect of offense severity was also mediated by moral outrage (i.e., retributive concerns).
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U2 - 10.1002/bsl.921
DO - 10.1002/bsl.921
M3 - Article
C2 - 20101588
AN - SCOPUS:76149102633
SN - 0735-3936
VL - 28
SP - 58
EP - 83
JO - Behavioral Sciences and the Law
JF - Behavioral Sciences and the Law
IS - 1
ER -