Criminological and ethical assessment of the sex offenders' registry of the Republic of Poland

This study is dedicated to the ethical and criminological evaluation of the sexual offender's registry in the Republic of Poland. The topic remains controversial and is insufficiently addressed in existing academic literature. Therefore, the author aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the registry. The paper investigates Poland's experience in recording and classifying convicted sexual offenders, highlighting the registry as a significant criminal law instrument for the prevention of sexual violent crimes. Furthermore, the author assesses the effectiveness of the registry and draws comparisons with similar practices in Western countries. Special attention is given to the Polish Public Sex Offenders Registry, one of the few publicly accessible crime registries within the European Union, which operates under the Act of May 13, 2016, aimed at counteracting sexual crime threats. This registry can be accessed from any device worldwide, resembling certain public registries in the United States. The article explores how such stringent regulations align with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) established by the European Parliament, and evaluates whether this approach to crime prevention can be deemed sufficient. By analyzing the implications of the registry within the broader context of ethical considerations and data protection, the paper seeks to contribute to the ongoing discourse surrounding the balance between public safety and individual rights.