Psychological and Emotional Impacts on Families of People Involved in the Legal System for Sex Offenses

Legal system involvement can have enduring impacts on family members, especially when their kin is convicted of a sexual offense. With nearly one million people enduring legal proceedings, incarcerated, or mandated to register for a sex offense, the amount of family members who experience symbiotic harms from legal system contact is immense. This qualitative study focuses on the psychological and emotional repercussions of a family member’s legal system involvement for a sex offense. Interviews with 35 family members indicated feelings of anger, trauma, fear, forgiveness, guilt, and helplessness. This study discusses the broad repercussions of legal system contact for a sex offense and suggests recommendations for correctional policy to mitigate the damage to families.