In state prisons, around 161,000 inmates were incarcerated for rape or other sexual assaults in 2022. Roughly 95 percent of these state prisoners will eventually return to their communities, highlighting the reality that most serve limited sentences, with some released on parole before completing their terms. Upon release, some offenders are supervised by probation or parole, while others are unsupervised.

At the close of 2022, approximately 3.67 million adults in the United States were under community supervision, either on probation or parole; about 2.99 million were on probation, and 698,800 were on parole. This group includes registered sex offenders. As of August 2024, there are 795,066 registered sex offenders living in communities across the country. However, not all of these individuals comply with legal requirements, and some are unaccounted for.

We all want to protect our families and communities, as safety is one of the most basic, fundamental needs of humankind. We can’t do it alone, nor is it realistic to believe we can. We simply don’t have the necessary staffing or resources to effectively manage this diverse population of offenders without collaborating with other stakeholders. We have to join forces with those who have an investment in public safety and ending sexual violence. This collaboration can and should include:

• Other law enforcement agencies (including municipal, county, state, and federal)
• Victims and Victim Advocates
• Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections Officers
• Treatment Providers (Sexual deviancy and substance abuse)
• Corrections personnel (Pre-release and post-release)
• The Community

We must keep victims at the forefront of any decision-making. We must ask ourselves, what is in the victim's best interest? The Brave Movement (a global movement of survivors and allies working to end sexual violence against children and adolescents, of which I am a co-founder) has a saying. “Nothing about us, without us.” As law enforcement officers, we may believe we know what victims need or want, but it is a complex and individualized process for each victim.

Just like every sex offender is different, each victim is different and has their own needs and ability to cope with such a personal attack on their body. In 2022, more than half of rape or sexual assault victimizations (63%) resulted in moderate to severe distress to the victim. Victims reported significant problems with family or friends (34%) and significant problems with their jobs or schoolwork (29%)

How we respond to sexual violence can go a long way in helping the victim heal. We have an obligation to investigate allegations of criminal conduct to the fullest extent. We also have an obligation to be empathetic and compassionate—a responsibility to do no harm. We don’t want to cause secondary victimization or trauma because of an insensitive response.

Reporting to the police may occur during or immediately following a criminal incident or at a later date. Police may be notified by the victim or a third party (including witnesses, other victims, household members, or non-police officials, such as school officials or workplace managers), or they may have been present at the scene of the incident.

How do we meet the most basic and fundamental need for the safety of victims and the community? We need to understand the impact of victimization and identify actions that can mitigate or exacerbate its effects.