Victims’ views must be considered on sex offender registers

Professor Kelly Richards, QUT School of Justice

It’s been almost a year since the Queensland Government  introduced Daniel’s Law, a sex offender register. Victim/survivors of sexual violence have mixed feelings about such public registers, but they are not always consulted.

The thoughts of those directly impacted should be considered and may go a long way towards reducing the possibilities of vigilantism and public panic.

We surveyed nearly 200 and interviewed 26 Australian victim/survivors to understand their views about what should happen when sexual offenders are released from prison.

This is an important concern, because the number of people imprisoned for sexual offending is steadily increasing across Australia and globally. The number of sexual offenders in Australian prisons has increased every year since 2016, and sexual offences are the most common crime category for which Australians are incarcerated after acts intended to cause injury.

Almost every sexual offender is subsequently released from prison into the community, raising concerns about public safety.

This influx of sexual offenders exiting prison has resulted in repeated calls by Members of Parliament to introduce a public sex offender register. Public registers are widespread in the USA and are often implemented – literally - in the name of victims. Mirroring the UK’s Sarah’s Law and the USA’s Megan’s Law, the Queensland Government launched Daniel’s Law, with the register website going public on December 31, 2025

It might appear on the surface then that victim/survivors support public sex offender registers. However, very little research has sought their views.

Our research was funded by a Criminology Research Grant and supported by community organisations Survivors and Mates Support Network (SAMSN), Murawin, Blue Knot Foundation and the Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivors Support Centre (BRISSC).

Our survey found victim/survivors ranked public sex offender registers as the least effective intervention for sex offenders leaving prison (behind electronic monitoring, Circles of Support and Accountability, non-public registers, psychological counselling and parole supervision). They also ranked public registers as their least favoured of all these interventions.

Our interviews with 19 male (including one trans* male) and seven female victim/survivors painted a complex picture. Victim/survivors’ views about public sex offender registers ranged from very supportive to strongly opposed.

Where they supported public registers, victim/survivors mostly did so because they believe (or hope) that registers will have a practical effect. Mostly, they were not in favour of shaming offenders unless this would reduce sexual reoffending. Victim/survivors supportive of public registers mostly argued that only limited information about offenders should be released publicly.

Interestingly, victim/survivors did not think public registers would change offenders’ behaviour. Rather, they believed that information about offenders would equip the public to protect themselves.

Those who were less supportive had concerns that public registers will give rise to vigilante action against registered offenders. Paradoxically, they were concerned both that public registers will cause unnecessary panic and create a false sense of security among the public.

Collectively, victim/survivors’ views were diverse and nuanced, but certainly not uniformly reflective of the ‘vengeful victim’ image often invoked by governments and some media. Indeed, while there appears to be an assumption that victim/survivors are supportive of public registers, the reality is far more complex.

Our research draws attention to the importance of canvassing (rather than assuming) the views of victim/survivors, who are important stakeholders in sex offender management policy. It suggests that where governments insist on implementing public registers, serious consideration should be afforded to how vigilantism and public distress can be minimised if victim/survivors’ concerns are to be taken seriously.

• Read the full study in the International Review of Victimology - What do victim/survivors think about ‘sex offender registration and notification’ policies? A qualitative examination - Kelly Richards, 2026

The National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Line – 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.