Equal Opportunity Disadvantage or Levels of Harm: Examining Differences in Collateral Consequences of the Sex Offender Registry by Race and Sexual Orientation

Collateral consequences of the sex offender registry in the United States have been documented for decades, but few studies have examined whether demographic or structural conditions affect the frequency or severity of collateral consequences on sex offenders. We report on a nationwide survey of cisgender men required to register on a sex offense registry. We describe the impact of collateral consequences of sex offender management in key areas, including housing, employment, health, and victimization. We expand on previous literature by examining differential experiences of sex offender conviction based on sexual orientation and race/ethnicity. Non-White persons and non-straight persons were not more likely to experience collateral consequences in specific types of collateral consequence nor the range of possible consequences. The only factor that protected registered sex offenders from collateral consequences was educational attainment. Our findings suggest that the sex offender registry flattens all persons to a similar level of disadvantage.