In this timely and extensively researched book, sociologist Emily Horowitz shows how current sex-offense policies in the United States create new forms of harm and prevent those who have caused harm from the process of constructive repentance or contributing to society after punishment. Horowitz also illustrates the failure of criminal justice responses to social problems. Sharing detailed narratives from the experiences of those on registries and their loved ones, Horowitz reveals the social impact and cycle of violence that results from dehumanizing and banishing those who have already been held accountable.

From Rage to Reason offers a new perspective on how and why false claims about sex offenses became so pervasive and how these myths fostered ineffective policies that have little to do with the reality of most sexual abuse. It argues that to truly prevent sexual abuse, we must unearth the sources of these misunderstandings, debunk these claims in a systematic way, and have frank and genuine discussions about the limits of legal responses to complex social problems.

Reviews

“This may be the bravest book you have ever read. Horowitz’s meticulous interviews with people on sex offender registries returns a modicum of humanity not just to them but, more importantly, to the rest of us. As she aptly describes, registries are utterly useless for preventing new sex crimes. All they do is sentence to social and civil death people who have already served their time of punishment and labored to repent. We can ill afford to deny rights and humanity to anyone in our culture. To do so cuts us all at an Achilles heel that very few are willing to acknowledge. Horowitz won’t let us look away.” ―Debbie Nathan, Prize-winning Journalist, Author of Sybil Exposed: The Extraordinary Story Behind the Famous Multiple Personality Case and Satan’s Silence: Ritual Abuse and The Making Of A Modern American Witch Hunt

“The compelling stories Horowitz tells in From Rage to Reason bring home, more powerfully than could any statistical analysis, the systematic and gratuitous harms generated by America’s unique program of government-sponsored shunning of people who have already been fully punished for a sexual offense. Her stories show how the senseless barriers registry laws erect to gainful employment, adequate housing, and normal parenting often destroy the registrants’ families along with their futures, while contributing nothing to public safety. These are stories we need to hear.” ―Ira Mark Ellman, Distinguished Affiliated Scholar, Center for the Study of Law and Society, University of California, Berkeley

“From Rage to Reason offers an unvarnished look at the crippling realities of life on the sex offense registry. Crafted from over 100 in-depth interviews, From Rage to Reason is storytelling at its best, vividly portraying the needless abuse and punishment directed at those society deems to be ‘others.’ ” ―Catherine L. Carpenter, Arleigh M. Woods and William T. Woods Chair, Southwestern Law School and President, Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws

The post From Rage to Reason: Why We Need Sex Crime Laws Based on Facts, Not Fear (Bloomsbury, 2023), by Emily Horowitz first appeared on NARSOL.

Everyone who watched the debate last night – All the laws requiring those convicted of sex offenses to put their names in a registry should be abolished – will agree; Emily Horowitz, defending the affirmative, was cool, calm, collected, and convincing. She was the voice of reason and facts in the debate. NARSOL is so proud to call her our friend. Thank you, Emily!

Emily reports that 160 persons were physically in the audience, and that another 5,000 watched the live stream. We do not know how many voted pre- and postdebate, but the percentage results are these:

Should the sex offender registry be abolished?

The post Watch Debate – Should the Sex Offender Registry be Abolished? first appeared on NARSOL.

Emily Horowitz, PhD, Professor in Sociology and Criminal Justice at St. Frances College in New York, is making news by speaking up and speaking the truth about the state of our current sex offender system. She deliberately stirred a hornet’s nest with the publication of her article, “In defense of Josh Duggar’s parents: It’s no secret why a mother and father would hesitate before reporting a child to police on sex abuse allegations.”

Then Lenore Skenazy, writer, television personality, and a major speaker at last year’s conference, wrote about Emily and her dedication to the true meaning of the word “justice” in our criminal justice system.

When Fox News, a cable and satellite television outlet, decided to do a series on the Duggar family, one person they reached out to was Dr. Emily Horowitz. Her interview with them on the subject will be aired Friday night, June 5, at 9 p.m. eastern time on The Kelly File.

Dr. Horowitz is living what she believes; in her article, Lenore says that she “walks the walk.” She is also taking some risks by aligning herself with RSOL. We hope you will watch her interview, comment, and attend our conference to support this courageous woman

The post Emily Horowitz, RSOL conference speaker first appeared on NARSOL.