Date of Award
3-22-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Criminal Justice Sciences
First Advisor
Jessie Krienert
Abstract
While there is a plethora of research exploring how registered sex offenders are negatively affected by the registry, little research has examined how the consequences of the registry affect their family members. More specifically, the mothers of registrants have received even less study even though mothers typically receive blame for their child’s outcomes - including delinquency and criminality. The current paper examines if, and how, the mothers of registrants experience courtesy stigmatization from their child’s arrest and conviction along with how that affects their personal relationships, finances, and mental health. The study utilizes a mixed-methods research design, as 178 women’s survey responses were analyzed quantitatively and 30 women’s interviews were analyzed qualitatively. The quantitative findings indicate that the mothers of registrants experience moderate to high levels of discrimination along with notable levels of depression and anxiety due to their child’s status as a sex offender. Qualitatively, the results show that the mothers of registrants experience a range of collateral consequences stemming from their child’s arrest and conviction. Policy implications relating to these findings and recommendations for future study are provided as well.
Recommended Citation
Ingold, Kimberly Ann, "Courtesy Stigma and Mental Health: Exploring the Lived Experiences of the Mothers of Registered Sex Offenders" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 1917.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/1917
DOI
https://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2024.20240618063949401518.999961
Page Count
81
Comments
Imported from Ingold_ilstu_0092N_12604.pdf