Protests against released sex offenders in community not helpful, professor says

The relocation of high-risk sex offender James Conway to Mission, B.C., has sparked protests by local residents who say they feel unsafe.

Conway's criminal history includes sexual interference with a minor, sexual assault and arson. He previously lived in Abbotsford, B.C., where he was also shunned by local residents.

But a Simon Fraser University criminologist says such attitudes can actually backfire, because successful reintegration into the community is important for keeping offenders from committing more crimes.

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"Research is showing the first three months after being released from prison are the most critical," Eric Beauregard, director of the Centre for Research on Sexual Violence told On The Coast host Stephen Quinn.

"It is very important during these first months that the offender is capable of finding a place to live, and hopefully, rebuilding a new network a network of people that can actually help him. Because there's a lot of struggles when you have to reintegrate into the community."

Beauregard says he understands why people might be uncomfortable with such a person in their community, but at the same time, "They have to live somewhere we cannot put them on an island where only inmates are living."

"I totally understand the reaction, although I don't think this is very helpful," he said of protests against newly released sex offenders in a community.

"It's only creating more stress on the inmate and sometimes it can trigger some of the risk factors associated to recidivism."

Beauregard says studies show about 13 to15 per cent of sex offenders commit further crimes once released, and while it's difficult, he says the best thing a community can do to encourage rehabilitation in them is to not ostracize them further.

With files from CBC Radio One's On The Coast

To hear the full story, click the audio labelled:Professor encourages communities not to further ostracize released sex offenders