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.
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