Cutting through the hysteria and hype, Reconsidering Sex Crimes and Offenders: Prosecution or Persecution? argues that while convicted violent sex offenders certainly should be punished, many laws targeting minor sexual offenses are outdated, overly severe, and too concerned with satisfying public outrage driven by distortions, misconceptions, and sensationalistic media coverage.

Reconsidering Sex Crimes and Offenders challenges readers' understanding of who sex offenders are, how they should be treated, and how best to protect the community from such offenders. Lisa Anne Zilney and Laura J. Zilney look at how the legal definitions of certain offenses have changed over time and then explore issues through a series of real-life case studies. Readers will discover how some citizens have been targeted and punished for consensual acts—including homosexuality, polygamy, and pornography. Additional coverage considers a number of highly controversial laws—from residency restrictions to the death penalty—and the media's role in fueling public support for them.