I am conflicted about sex offenders

[question everything]

On the one hand, I think that once they served their terms they, like other convicts, are entitled to go back to society to live like regular folks. I have often thought that forcing them to register, and being faced with angry mob that even harasses their hosts was shameful.

But when we have stories about Drew Sjodin in South Dakota last year, and now Jessica Marie Lunsford in Florida - I really don't know what to think.

Is keeping sex offenders for life in prison the answer? Oh, I suppose our blood thirsty pugs would just as soon hang them in the public square but... are these two cases exceptional?

What do people here think?

[JimmyJazz]

1. I am conflicted as well.

It almost seems as if the risk is too high, but I haven't really looked at any case studies to see if there are sex offenders who are "cured." I tend to think not.

Also, I remember an interview on television of Jeffrey Dahmer (I don't recall if he was a sex offender, but he was violent) who said that, while he was sorry for what he had done, he couldn't guarantee that, if let go, he wouldn't do it again because the urge was that intense - and that he didn't want to be released from prison for that reason. (not that he ever would have, but it was an interesting statement)

[Caution]

2. The execption cannot be used to prove the rule

While sex offenders have committed terrible crimes, treating people like they are automatically going to re-offend is unfair and unjust.

Yes those two instances are terrible, but think of the poor person who made a terrible mistake at a young age, spent 20 years in prison and paid for that mistake and is then is presented with the massive obstacle to even make the attempt to live a productive and good life. People change every day and should be given the opportunity to do so. By forcing registration, these people aren't given that opportunity.

My thinking is that those who offend multiple times would make more sense for a registry. If a person is a one time offender in any category and pays his/her debt, why extend that punishment into the rehabilitative phase?

[question everything]

7. This makes sense, to have several categories

and not "one size fits all."

As you suggest, separate the one time offender from the habitual and perhaps also force registration only in the first year, or two and if the person is now rehabilitated, to remove the public registration.

[Verve]

20. Sex offenders aren't like bank robbers!

A bank robber can likely stop robbing banks because he isn't "addicted" to banks. A pedophile cannot just stop molesting. They are addicted. And unfortunately, the treatments out there (mental health and incarceration) have proved not to be effective.

People do change. Yet to stop an addictive behavior, such as smoking, people often fail several times before they actually quit. A pedophile should not have the luxury to "fail" at quitting their behavior. This hurts innocent children and often creates more pedophiles in some of the most fragile of these children.
It may sound cold hearted, but a pedophile does not deserve a second chance. Our children can't afford it!

[Caution]

83. sex offenders are not just pedophiles

Yes the "think of the children" argument holds weight and it should. Certainly there should be an aspect of the laws that accoutns for this (perhaps a determination of an addiction or a mental problem, in which case there should also be a treatment aspect), however, there are a LOT of cases of 18 year olds who sleep with 16 year olds who are tried, convicted and imprisoned for statuatory rape. They serve their sentence (I'm not going to bother arguing whether a 16 year old can give consent or whatnot, i'm only talking about the current sex offender registry laws, which are nothing more than a modern day Scarlet Letter) and are released and then are forced to register as a sex offender in their community (which makes everyone assume they are a pedophile). Sex offenders have committed terrible crimes and shoudl server their punishment and if that behavior is a result of some kind of psychological problem they should be required to undergo treatment, but to force every single person who has done something like this (which I consider to be absolutely abhorrent) to always have that stigma attached even 20 years later is cruel.

There should be something more than a simple black and white label that is applied. Very very few of those on the sex offender roles are there as a result of the addictive behavior you describe, yet even though these people may be making an honest and true effort to rehabilitate they are forced to undergo further punishment for their crime within every day life.

The sex offender rolls are just the beginning too. Were you aware that now anyone convicted of a federal felony must submit their DNA into the FBI database? Even if that felony was not a violent offense? How is this fair? We know for a fact that DNA testing is not exact and at some point some poor schmuck who was caught up in something like phone fraud is going to end up in prison for life for a murder he didn't commit.

There has to be some sanity in the system.

[Verve]

130. See post 102 and post 15. n/t

[MsAnthropy]

3. Rehabilitation does not work

They WILL offend again. I say keep them inside forever.

[Az]

29. Where are people getting this myth from?

Even without treatment the recidivism rate is between 30%-50%. With treatment it drops to below 2%. Instead because of the horror we associate with this issue we simply want to throw these human beings away. They can be treated. Making it ok to be treated makes it more likely that individuals will seek help before they act out on their obsesssions. This will in turn cut down on incidents. And since most predators are the result of being victims themself this will cut down on the cycle.

[MsAnthropy]

42. We'll have to disagree

As a woman, I can't view it as logically and intellectually as you do. In my experience, every sexual offender I've come across is guilty of many offenses he didn't get caught and punished for and, once released, offends again and again. Until they come up with an effective deterrent, society should be protected.

[Az]

47. What are you doing

That you come across such a large number of such individuals?

[MsAnthropy]

61. Don't be insulting--I live in a city and watch the daily news.

[Az]

67. No intent to be insulting

From your wording I assumed you were in personal contact with numerous predatory individuals. I assumed this to mean you had professional or personal contact with them for some reason.

Now if your "contact" is based on the lurid details that "Media" loves to parade before you then I will have to reevaluate your argument. You are aware that the media loves to put fear into the hearts of people. When you tear yourself away from that feed and really look at the numbers you find that it is no where near the horror scenaria the MSM has created to keep you fearfully glued to the tube.

Recidivism for predatory sex crimes is lower than drug based crimes. After treatment it drops substantially to below 10%. If chemical castration is used as a treatment recidivism drops to below 2%.

Please don't give in to the fear FOX news and MSM are peddling. This problem is treatable and no where near as severe as they are making it out to be.

[H2O Man]

48. Baloney.

Taking into account that there are offenders who are on the fringes of what is defined as "sexual offenders," we can make the discussion a lot easier by discussing sexual predators. There are no successful treatments, other than incarceration or death. But even including a wider range of offenders, the idea of there being less than 2% recidivism is simply not true. I'd like to hear the treatment that you believe is so successful.

[MsAnthropy]

53. Thank you H2O Man

He's not going to win this one with statistics.

[Az]

54. I have posted numerous examples

I have yet to see one study showing 100% recidivism or any report suggesting treatment doesn't work. You are responding emotionally. This is understandable. Its a horrific crime. But we have to deal with it rationally or we add fuel to the fire. If we keep dealing with the problem in ways that do not work then the matter will just continue.

Show me the reports saying this is untreatable. Show me the reports indicating 100% recidivism.

[H2O Man]

64. Two errors

{1} It's cheap to say I responded emotionally. It doesn't deserve any further response.

{2} I did not say there were any studies that indicate 100% recidivism. Again, a cheap tactic unworthy of response.

I did see a link that you included below, and the paper you are basing your position on, while not resorting to the silly "emotional" and "prove THIS!" nonsense, is hardly proof that there is a 98% successful treatment, excepting death, which I do not advocate.

[Az]

70. Fine, then lets simply deal with facts

Can you provide any facts or numbers indicating the severity of the problem as you seem to be suggesting exists. Either pertaining to recidivism or treatment.

[H2O Man]

81. Here's a fact:

I am basing a lot of what I am saying on years of work at a mental health clinic. I've seen a number of clinicians who believed that there was a new treatment that allowed them to treat sex offenders successfully, believing those offenders would be able to safely rejoin society. I've seen where more than one of those clinicians has been confident in their ability to the point where they, using their best judgement, make reports to the courts and to probation and parole, and allow sexual predators to return to a community with limited restrictions. And I've seen those predators re-offend against innocent victims.

Now, you are certainly entitled to say that this is not a valid scientific study, and in the sense that you seem to view things, I'll agree that it is not. But the innocent victims and their families really don't care much about scientific studies.

I've seen a significant number of "sexual offenders" who do respond to treatment. Again, they tend to be the people who get caught in acts that are legally sexual offenses, but are not of a predatory nature. But in regard to those who commit violent, predatory offenses, I'm convinced they always pose a risk to an unsuspecing public. And I'm confident that the public will continue to recognize this as true, despite what scientific reports claim.

[lateo]

104. Baloney indeed...

This sort of primative thinking needs to be stamped out.

[ultraist]

82. It's not a myth. MOST are repeat offenders and there is low recovery

Where did you get your numbers? Do you have a link?

All of the research and stats I've seen shows a very high recidivism rate for child molestors.

[Az]

88. I've posted a number of links below and in other threads

I have yet to see any reports suggesting the high rate everyone seems to be insisting must be true. So I put it back to you. Do you have numbers supporting your claim?

[ultraist]

96. You don't have anything to support your numbers?

This report points out the difficulty of measuring recidivism rates and notes that many child sexual abuse crimes go unreported. It does note one estimate that 52% of molestors reoffend. It also points out that there is a high probability of reoffense and that most child molestors are resistant to treatment.


http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles/163390.pdf

[jdj]

119. I'll tell you where, from people not posting links suggesting otherwise.

I'd love documentation on this.

And why should society be asked to assume this risk, really.

Put every parent in a room, and say, look, we want to be fair to these guys, but somewhere around 50% of them are going to relapse. When they do, some of your kids will be brutalized and even murdered, but I'm sure you will understand.

Ain't gonna work. Something needs to be done.

[Fescue4u]

120. Id rather throw them away

Than sacrifice my child as one of the "only" 2%

When the recidivism rate is 0%, then Id consider letting them out again.

[smirkymonkey]

125. Link, please.

I have a very hard time believing those statistics, especially the 2%, without some kind of backup.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

132. Where are YOU getting YOUR myth from?

[Walt Starr]

4. I'm not

There is no cure. There can only be management.

1) Ankle bracelets required for the rest of their life. No exceptions.

2) Moving out of bounds while on probation or parole should be a felony with life imprisonment as the penalty.

3) Murder in conjunction with a sex crime should be a candidate for the death penalty in states where a DP is enforced.

[ultraist]

84. I agree. Ankle bracelets for life. Why risk it when they rarely recover?

[Snivi Yllom]

135. did you catch that in Florida this guy worked at the elementary school

of the girl he abducted, abused and murdered!

WTF is wrong. Sooooooo many people fucked up on this one.

[ladjf]

5. The sad situation about sexual predators is that they are

suffering from a mental disorder that has as yet been impossible to effectively cure. Until the mental health profession is able to solve this problem, society will be obligated to "quarantine" the predators.
We can't allow innocent victims to suffer even though the perpetrators
are unable to control their urges.

When I use the term quarantine, I mean that they must be incarcerated or at least very closely monitored but not treated as hardened criminals unless they have committed felonies. It isn't an infringement of their civil rights to involuntarily isolate them from potential victims. Meanwhile, the mental health profession needs to devise ways to treat and cure predators.

[shadowknows69]

10. until then

keep them incarcerated. I'm sorry but the sentences are too light and too many times have there been repeat offenses which are usually taken to the next level like this tragic case.

[ladjf]

19. I'm a roaring Liberal. But, sadly, I have to agree with you about

the incarceration of sexual predators given the current state of treatments.

But, there might be some less
expensive and restrictive ways to deal with them, especially the ones who have committed less heinous acts. I'm thinking about some sort of round the clock monitoring. For instance, require them to log into some computer database, describing what their plans for the day are, asking them if they are having any thoughts about contacting children for sexual purposes. That might sound like a stupid idea as you could say that all they would have to do is lie. However, in my experience as a mental health worker, I have found that most sexual predators actually knew that what they did was wrong and during most of their waking moments wanted to be free from their urges. My point about the multiple daily reporting is that perhaps before they sank into a full fledged fantasy about sex with children, their urges could be headed off by certain forms of intervention.

What about 24 X 7 TV monitoring, via a wireless camera to INTERNET website?

Don't forget that all of us are addicted to something. But, in most cases, that addiction either hurts no one or just yourself. There are
reasons why they are sexual predators and those causes were probably not of their making. In that sense, they are as innocent as one who inadvertently contracts a disease like TB or Malaria.

We shouldn't just declare that sexual predation is totally incurable, lock them up for life and hope for the best. That cost too much money and may be causing unnecessary suffering for the perp and his loved ones.

[shadowknows69]

22. it would be said that the measures you suggest

wouldn't be cost-effective either. That and prison space are probably the reasons the sentences end up being too light not just for sex offenders but for a lot of violent criminals and habitual hard drug offenders as well. I know there are chemical castrators and some states even resort to surgical castration (which I don't really advocate but maybe that's just a man thing.) We can't just keep the status quo. Too many kids are dying.

[ladjf]

33. Your thinking is good. Prison cost about $30,000 per year.

So, it would cost millions to imprison for life a young predator.
Yet, it seems to not do so, would likely cost innocent lives.

Castration sounds like a reasonable alternative. Yet, I've read that some predators continue in their ways even though castrated.

I haven't put a lot of thought into it but, I keep thinking about some sort of hourly or daily computer monitoring, either TV monitors,
or login interviews that would be initially automated, but, if the
program detects certain suspicious behaviors, the program would page mental health specialist. This monitoring could even regularly transmit biometrics such as blood pressure, pulse and respiration.
I'm implying that there may be ways to anticipate that the perp is moving toward the commission of another sex crime. I also suggest that many, if not most "perps", would cooperate with a good monitoring program. These kinds of sex crimes are committed as a result of a build up of tension. This tension or anticipation is likely to have
telltale biometric correlations.

Meanwhile, the potential victims are still the most important people in this terrible scenario. We will still have to do whatever we can to protect them. The sex criminals must be kept from their potential victims.

[shadowknows69]

34. I still think you're talking about more potential cost than prision

you need to pay people (most likely state employees) to monitor and maintain the high tech stuff. That said I don't think you can put a price tag on a child's saftey but that will be the arguement.

[katsy]

50. What do politicians spend to...

play political games?

The Schiavo fiasco is costing taxpayers somewhere between $3 and $5 million.

$5 M would go a long way to build one or two hospitals/jails for these people.

If taxpayers demanded an accounting from congress and got one... maybe we could cut spending on political circuses and build facilities for these predators.

[ladjf]

63. It may seem cold and irrelevant, but, who exactly is going to

pay the millions that will be required to maintain Mrs. Schiavo in her
state of suspended animation?

[katsy]

71. taxpayers.

[ladjf]

62. I didn't mean to say that you could put a price on saving innocent

children. I'm trying to find some solutions other than just throwing every sexual predator in jail for life. There could well be better ways to handle the problem. But, I don't know what they are.

[question everything]

59. Thank you for your thoughts

We obviously need some new way of handling sex offenders.

Perhaps a half-way house where they are not alone, where there is constantly some type of monitoring and where they have to keep busy, maintaining the house, the garden, and participate in some other activities in the communities. I think that it is the solitary living that can trigger offenses. Am I right?

Basically I am against just incarceration for life. I don't think that this is what the penal code is all about and I don't think that this benefits society as a whole.

[ladjf]

75. I believe that you point about the solitary living is a good one.

The fantasies that drive individual to commit crimes of child may not be structurally or mechanically different that the types of sexual fantasies that are considered harmless. The difference is in the quality of the act as it impacts both the perpetrator and the victim.
If I'm correct on this, then some of the answers to what motivates sexual predators could be found in studying the forming of "harmless" sexual fantasies the exist in the minds of most people.

Such fantasies are usually triggered by some type of stimulus and are likely to build until the person either acts out the fantasy in some way or is distracted by some other situation. You comments about the danger of solitary living could come into play as the perpetrator is allowed the time to be able to bring the fantasy from the level of a mere notion, triggered by some innocuous stimulation, up to the level of an urgent need to act it out. People who aren't alone are likely to be distracted prior to the intense level of fantasy wish.

[moggie]

91. Solitary living

As someone who lives alone (and who is emphatically not a sex offender!), I'm rather sensitive to this "guys who live alone are probably perverts" meme -- not that that's what you said, but the prejudice does exist. It's my impression that most child abuse is committed by fathers and stepfathers, rather than solitary men, but I don't have statistics to support that.

[question everything]

101. Of course I did not mean to imply that

As this thread meandered I have had more opportunities to develop this thought. That released convicts, not just sex offenders need to be released to some kind of a community living - where they are constantly being monitored and are busy.

These fathers and stepfathers are alone in the sense that they can do what they want in their house without anyone watching over them or even hinting to them: STOP! We know that in too many cases the mother knew or suspected that abuse was taking place but chose to keep quiet or, worse, deny it.

No, solitary living is not a sign of perversion. But if someone is unhappy in life, frustrated or is simply sick, having people around him monitoring him in different degrees can, I hope, stifle the urges, channeling them to... chopping woods for the fireplace?

[Cuban_Liberal]

6. I'm not conflcted at all.

They have a treatable, but incurable illness, and need to be monitored closely for the rest of their lives.

[Ready4Change]

8. They've paid for crimes past. But have they been cured?

Probably not. Contrary to "get tough on crime" rhetoric, jails do little to stop criminals from commiting their first crimes, and do even less to stop them from being repeat offenders.

They do keep criminals from committing crimes against the public WHILE they are in jail.

I think the stigma against former criminals will remain until we can become more sophisticated (and effective) with eliminating the root causes of criminal deeds. In my opinion, that will take a combination of a little mental health care, a whole lot of social re-engineering, and a successful campaign to to eliminate most poverty.

In other words, don't hold your breath.

In the mean time I think registering sex offenders isn't a bad or cruel idea, as from what I hear the repeat rate is pretty high.

[zanne]

9. Thanks for bringing up this subject.

I've always been conflicted, too, but didn't dare say anything that would sound like support for such sick people. I believe that they are SICK. But like some other really sick people, they're harmful to society, especially to kids. I agree that once they've served their time, they should be able to live like regular citizens. I just think that the time they serve should be in mental institutions and the sentences should be very long. Until there's a cure for this kind of sickness, society has to be protected.

[shadowknows69]

11. the sentences are rarely equal to the crime

in my own hometown they just released someone who molested a 12 year old girl in a matter of like 2 months. 2 MONTHS. for fuks sake we at least need to give the victims time to start healing or at least to time to move out of the area before we release what probably is the worst monster in their lives right back into the neighborhood.

[Verve]

12. Do not be conflicted! The majority of sex offenders WILL STRIKE

AGAIN! Psychotherapy, behavior therapy and incarceration have shown little positive effect on treating pedophile behavior.

It is sad. They have served their time, yet if they are still a danger to the most vulnerable in our society, our children, then they need to stay in incarceration.

[Mizmoon]

13. As a parent who lives near a registered sex offender, I say

the responsiblity is mine to protect my kids. I cannot expect a safe, perfect world for them.

[katsy]

46. Jessica Lundsford...

was in her room, in bed. The door was left unlocked by accident. Did she deserve to die because her family forgot about the door?

I have toddler twins. I talk about safety issues with my children. We "stop, look and listen" at every corner. We practice "drop, roll and run" in case of a fire. We talk about never ever talking to strangers every day.

BUT I also make mistakes just like the Lundsfords when they forgot to lock the door.

Should we put the Lundsfords in jail for their mistake?

My point is... we want to take out terrorists for crimes against innocent people. Don't you think these sexual predators are terrorists in every sense of the word?

No one expects a safe, perfect world for their children. Most parents fully understand the issues that face them... safety, health, drugs etc. Do you really think parents can even match wits with sexual predators? How does a parent prepare a child in the event a sexual predator snatches them? What can one say?

Maybe prospective parents should get anti-terrorist training prior to having children. How can any parent even understand the lengths sexual predators would go to to get their children?

Sexual predators can not be cured at this time. Are you proposing we keep our children in a virtual prison to protect them? Because that's what it will take given the tactics used to lure or snatch children by these sick people.

There's 30,000 registered sexual predators in FL right now. There were 28 convicted sexual predators in a small county in NY last month that were let out of jail (all illegal aliens).

Please... enlighten us as to how you would have a parent protect their children against the criminal mind.

[Mizmoon]

56. A' virtual prison"

I don't think knowing where your kids are at all times is keeping them in a 'virtual prison'. It's being a good parent. That includes checking on them after they've been put to bed, making sure the house is locked up, and sleeping at home.

[katsy]

79. And exactly how...

would that prevent a criminal from snatching your child if they are intent in doing so?

What is the optimum time for these "check-ups" at night? And how many? What if you fall asleep and miss check-up time. What if the criminal broke in while you made this fatal mistake?

What if someone snatched a child from a playground in their pre-school? What if you were watching them at a playground but the criminal managed to get them anyway by knocking you out cold with a rock?

My point is that you can be the "model" parent and still not prevent a criminal from snatching your child.

Sexual predators should be locked away until such time as a cure is found. If we need to put thieves on the street to make room for sexual predators... so be it. Thieves we can try to protect against or take a material loss and move on. Parents will never be able to understand how a sexual predator's mind works.

[ultraist]

98. So our kids aren't safe in their own homes and yards?

So that untreated mentally ill child molestors can have more freedoms? Fuck that.

If my kids want to play in our yard or driveway or sleep peacefully at night in the privacy of our home, their rights come before some pervert's.

[katsy]

107. You are right!

I'm in total agreement with you.

I doubt that any kind parental supervision can prevent a sexual predator from committing crimes against children UNLESS that supervision is of such intensity that it intrudes upon a child's right to breathe fresh air, play outdoors, attend school, be a child in general etc. etc.

It's unreasonable to blame parents for not understanding or prepare for the lengths a criminal will go to. It's unreasonable to say parents should be required to check on their childrens sleep at all hours of the night as if that is a cure all for these crimes... as if most parents don't have jobs to go to in the morning.

It's unreasonable to say that if a parent was truly a good parent, mere supervision would be the fix for the danger presented by sexual predators living in our neighborhoods.

It's unreasonable for a society NOT to go to extraordinary lengths to protect their children from these monsters. AND YES, IMO, that means protecting the general public from them instead of the other way around. I'm in favor of supervised living (and ankle bracelets) and treatment for them... away from our neighborhoods.

Just search your city's police files for sexual predators. My city had 1140 registered sexual predators. One neighboring city had 1290 registered sexual predators. I hate to even look at the other 4 neighboring cities!

Can someone tell me just how the hell a parent is supposed to commit each face to memory in order to better protect their children? I mean fire looks like fire and we can prepare our children for that. Even a rip tide follows certain conditions that we can prepare our children to implement in the face of danger. We can teach them to call 911 in cases of medical emergency. We can teach them road safety. Teach them to hand over their wallets if they are robbed (and hope for the best)... BUT what do we tell them to do if they are abducted?

What are the magic rules for babies to follow if they are abducted? I'm expecting someone here to say "well, the child should have known better than to run away into a crowd" OR "the parents should have taught the child how to screan louder with some guy's big hand over their mouth". That's pure BS!!!

Sorry for the rant but Jessica disappeared about 30 miles from us. Even though I check the sexual predator list regularly... I can't remember if this guy was ever on it! Does the inability to memorize their faces make me an irresponsible parent? If I don't know who these people are... do I lock my kids indoors or put leashes on them so they can't do what kids naturally do... like run and play?

[ultraist]

114. Well said!

It's unreasonable for a society NOT to go to extraordinary lengths to protect their children from these monsters. AND YES, IMO, that means protecting the general public from them instead of the other way around. I'm in favor of supervised living (and ankle bracelets) and treatment for them... away from our neighborhoods.

Society should take any and all precautions to protect citizens, particularly our most vulnerable. (Without violating anyone's constitutional rights, of course).

[potatoe]

124. What about kids who don't have attentive parents?

The rich can insulate themselves from crime, by living in gated communities and exclusive neighborhoods and installing expensive alarm systems. The poor count on the state to be pro-active and aggressively enforce the law, and commit the resources necessary to do whatever it takes to protect them from those who prey on them.

When incarceration rates go up and prison sentences lengthen, crime rates go down, and the suffering of the poor, who are disproportionate victims of crime, is relieved.

We should take back the streets. All the streets, not just the ones in exclusive neighborhoods.

[Snivi Yllom]

14. I think sex offenders deserve no mercy at all

None. Mandatory castrations and executions would be just fine for me. They are the lowest of the low.

[KarenS]

24. I agree 100%.

This is a black&white issue for me.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

30. See post #26. (nt)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

27. If you're going to execute them, why castrate? (nt)

[Snivi Yllom]

113. why,extra punishment of course

Sex offenders, rapists and child molesters are in my book the vilest scum in a world of scumbags. below real estate brokers, media whores, and lawyers.

No mercy and no excuses for those who prey on children. Period.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

118. Eugene Volokh?

Is that you?

[question everything]

68. Sad to read such a reaction

Regardless of the topic, I have always considered us, liberals, as people who do not see the world as black and white but with many shades of gray.

As others have posted here, above, we need to think outside the box. We know that jail time does nothing and, I suppose, your solution is to kill them - just as the Republicans want to for many other offenses.

I would like to think that we, as liberal, educated people, can come with at least some proposals to deal with this.

Some kind of mental institution, half-way house where they are being busy and constantly monitored, even finding the source of such behavior - is it genetic or adaptive.

[Snivi Yllom]

134. Did you hear how this florida SICKO worked in an elementary school!

HOW THE FUCK DID HE GET A JOB AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! Hellloooo, background check, sex offender registration. This guy had a criminal record a mile long!

I want fucking heads to roll on this one. And although I usually abhor lawyers for, well being whores, I hope they sue the shit out of the school board, the Sheriff's office, and the state of Florida.

[LilBitRad]

117. Total agreement n/t

[purji]

15. sex offenders are 4 times more likely to be re arrested for sex crimes.

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/rsorp94.htm

[Az]

21. What is this indicitive of?

All this says is that our current system of justice is ineffective in dealing with sexual predators. I agree with this. Our justice system is all about vengence. Perhaps vengence doesn't work in this case.

[purji]

39. perhaps not

but until we can come up with an effective way of dealing with them,they should stay contained.(In my opinion)

[Az]

16. I think the focus should be rehabilitation rather than vengence

And in some cases some are unrehabilitatible. Most sexual predators can be treated. But our justice system is more concerned with punishment. Upshot is we create scenarios where individuals are put in storage for a time who need to be treated. Punishment will not rid them of their obsessions. Thus when released they are likely to be more violent and hardened and still having difficulty with their obsessions. Bad idea.

If justice was about rehabilitation then those that could be treated would be and could take a place in society once again. Those that can not be treated will be held away from society and no longer be a threat.

[Walt Starr]

18. Sex offenders cannot eb rehabilitated

They can only be managed. There is no possible way to rehabilitate a sex offender at this time. A sex offender will offend again without rigorous management. The recidivism rate for sex offenders is nearly 100%.

[Az]

23. Myth

REcitivism for sex offenders is around 58% without treatment. With treatment it is 1.5%. Vengence doesn't work on them. They maintain their obsessions and learn to hide them better. Thats all. Treatment is necissary. Treatment works.

[Cuban_Liberal]

25. Source for your data, please?

I don't buy those numbers at all.

[Az]

31. Here is a forensic report on recidivism

http://www.ipt-forensics.com/journal/volume10/j10_6.htm

I will try to dig up the numbers on treatment.

[Cuban_Liberal]

32. Thanks.

:)

[Az]

36. Here is a report on treatment

http://www.beachildshero.com/doestreatmentwork.htm

It has different numbers (lower initial recidivism and different for treatment) but it shows that there is a persistant myth being perpetrated in this society that they always repeat the crime and they can't be treated.

[ultraist]

92. Did you read that study? It does not support your claims.

It discusses the difficulty of assessing re-offense risk. It does not support what you have been saying in any way. In fact, it supports what others here have been saying in that there is no optimal treatment or assessment for re-offense.

The study you linked is about all types of sex offenders, not just child molesters.

This report http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles/163390.pdf discusses the characteristics of child molesters and that notes that there is NOT a highly effective treatment for them.

Most child molesters have impulsive control deficiencies and antisocial personality disorders. Both of which are chronic conditions and no effective treatment exists for such.

The fact is, pedophiles have about as good as chance for recovery as a crack head.

[Walt Starr]

28. Thanks, looked it up on the Justice site

You're right, I'm wrong.

[H2O Man]

57. Not true.

The report has statistics from a number of reports. The reports that have the most "positive" outlook on successful treatment should be recognized as {1} having been limited in the amount of post-treatment time they kept track of the offenders; {2} include a wide range of sexual offenders, which means the 18-year old boy caught having sexual relations with a 16-year old girlfriend is included in the same study as the 45-year old who had sex with a 4-year old; and {3} only includes those convicted for another offense. Obviously no study can speak to the numerous offenses that are never discovered, never prosecuted, or are somehow pled down.

[ultraist]

93. exactly. That report also does not look at just pedophiles.

Pedophiles recovery rate is extremely low and they molest on average 60 children in their lifetime.

It's reckless to downplay pedophilia and minimize the re-offense risks. The fact it is rare for a pedophile to molest once and never again.

[H2O Man]

110. No child is ever

attacked by a survey or a report made by someone in a sterile office. The truth is that most individuals who work in this field will tell you that there is a segment of sexual predators who will never be safe if released in society. Only those with an agenda -- be it to promote their own treatment program or their views that violent sex offenders are "just like you and I" -- would wish to release a group of people that are as dangerous as dogs with rabies, on an unsuspecting public.

If there were a good treatment available, common sense would indicate the Catholic Church would be invested in it. But when we examine the sexual predators that have filed the ranks of priest and bishops, we find that they have had "treatment" after "treatment", and they have continued to reoffend about as often as they take communion.

The idea that sexual offenders should not have legal consequences, such as incarceration, and should merely have "treatment," is in itself obscene. Why not do away with prisons for all rapists and murderers?

[jandrok]

51. You know, as a parent, I really have to think about this issue....

I know that AZ has pointed to some really good information in this thread about treatment and recividism and all, BUT, I have young children, and I really don't feel obligated to give a sex offender the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the safety of my kids. I have a sex offender living on my street, and I monitor the kids constantly when they are playing in the yard. I hardly ever let them play in the front yard, and when I do, it's supervised play only. That sucks, but it's the world we live in and we deal with it. Had we known that we had a sex offender in the neighborhood when we moved in, we wouldn't have done it. We would have chosen another neighborhood.

My question to those who support treatment and parole: would YOU willingly move your family next to one of these folks? Would YOU willingly place your family in danger? Maybe the treatment has worked for this individual, maybe not. Wanna take the chance? I sure as hell don't. I don't want them in my community, period.
I really don't give a shit what the individual circumstances were, I just don't want them there.

[Az]

58. Current system of justice doesn't work

Incarceration does not provide the treatment these people need. Thus it becomes a self fullfilling prophecy. You are right to be nervous. If they are a convicted sex offender then there is no gurantee that they have been treated properly.

If justice sought to correct rather than punish then there might be some trust within our society to fellons and predators once they were released. But as it stands these days prison is seen as a form of daycare for prisoners combined with a bit if vengence.

I fully understand the reaction of parents to predators in their neighborhood these days. But without addressing the real problem we are only going to make matters worse. Work towards the real solutions to problems. Work to make a better healthier society. Sticking people in prisons for their life when they could be treated is not a humane solution nor effective. It just sends those that have problems underground and out of reach of treatment.

[jandrok]

77. I'm not sure I understand where you're going....

Sticking offenders in prison for life may NOT solve their problems, and it may very well put them out of reach of effective treatment, and that's unfortunate. It does, however, get them off of the street.

You're making the assumption that if all sex offenders are treated with an effective intervention program, then the problem will get better. You discount the social stigmas associated with the crime. That won't go away. In other words, there will NEVER be trust within society for these people, period, I don't care HOW effective the treatment. They have been branded for life. Humane? Fair? Probably not, but then life isn't very fair sometimes. Actions have consequences.

You can't look at this issue in strictly statistical terms, as you are trying to do. You HAVE to have an emotional component to the problem.

[Fescue4u]

121. Treatment works?

Your own statistics say that it fails 1.5% of the time.

Are you will be let your child be the sacrifical 1.5% just so that a former child molester can get a 2nd chance?

Im not.

[aintitfunny]

17. I not conflicted

and believe there needs to be asolution. I don't know that we should keep them in jail, but some kind of monitoring has to be done. Most sex offenders were once sex offended. I have no sympathy for them, and don't want to say "they can't help themselves" but believe that the urge is something that they cannot overcome. This does not make them less evil or less responsible for their actions, but protecting kids should be the priority.

[Jesus Saves]

26. One thing to remember there are degrees of people classified as such

The twenty year old who has consensual sex with a sixteen year old, and gets busted for it is in a whole other realm from the sixty year old pedophile who abuses prepubescent youngsters.

I dated a woman for quite awhile who was a criminal defense attorney, and I remember talking about some of these cases with her.

There are different 'levels', however, on a societal level they all get tagged with that same 'sex offender' label, equally as damning.

Someone like that twenty year old should be allowed to get on with their life, eventually. No doubt about that.

The sixty year old on the other hand, should have to register, etc...

[napi21]

38. I agree...sort of.

Perhaps we should work on changing the laws that put that 20 year old in the sex offender catagory!

75 to 100 years ago, many coulpes got married when the girl was 15 or 16 years old. Now, I understand that life expectancy was much lower than it is today, but it still did happen. I'm 62, andwhen I was in a Junior in HS, my best friend and neighbor 2 doors away quit school at age 16, to get married. Her new husband was 19. BTW, they are stil married TO EACH OTHER today!

Somewhere our culture has changed and made it a sex crime for those under 18 to engage in even consensual sex with anyone who is over 18. It is a good starting place to change that offense to some other catagory, and then clamp down harder on the pedefile types.

[Jesus Saves]

49. IMO those laws should be changed

I'm not saying decriminalize such behavior, just don't lump them in the same category as true pedophiles. There's an ocean of difference of there.

[woodsprite]

95. Delaware's law gives an age range

and is stated below:

761 section J: A child who has not yet reached his or her sixteenth birthday is deemed unable to consent to a sexual act with a person more than 4 years older than said child. Children who have not yet reached their twelfth birthday are deemed unable to consent to a sexual act under any circumstances.

[ultraist]

102. In most states, it's legal for a 20 yr old to have sex with a 16 year old

15 is the cut off for statutory rape in many states. Additionally, charges vary in degree according to closeness of age. A 20 year old who has sex with a 17 year old will not be listed as a child molestor.

Child molestors are a different type of sexual offender. They view children as sex objects, have uncontrollable desires (much like addiction), impulse control issues, and antisocial personality disorders to varying degrees. Pedophilia is a different illness than the disorder that rapists who assualt adults have. That illness is more related to violent tendencies.

[northzax]

35. can we define 'sex offender'?

I have an acquaintance from college who was convicted of rape. It was an 'acquaintance rape' (date rape) and he did it. However, should a drunken mistake, based on a misunderstanding (he was drunk, the girl was drunk, they had had sex, while drunk, before) at the age of 17 lead to permanent confinement or castration? He served 3 1/2 years, and several more on probation. he didn't graduate from school. he made financial restitution to the victim. He has to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. He hasn't had a drink since.

Does he fall into the same category? or is the rage simply directed at pedophiles?

Is our justice system based on rehabilitation or revenge? Should we make a distinction between those who offend once, and serial predators? how about age groups? is a sex offense against a child worse than one against an adult?

[Cuban_Liberal]

37. We do need a better definition of the term.

Not all 'sex offenders' are equal; there is a huge difference between the 19 year-old who has otherwise consensual sex with a 17 year-old and a 50 year-old who has sex with an 8 year-old.

[jackelope72]

40. Exactly.

I know that New Mexico's sex offender registry includes people whose "crimes" consisted of consentual sex with another adult in a public place. Should those people really be put into the same category as the creepy guy who hangs out near the parks watching the little boys and/or girls play on the jungle gym while he jerks himself off under his trenchcoat? (I know, a little extreme there, but it illustrates my point.)

[question everything]

86. Indeed we do need different categories

and not only about sex offenders but about "deadbeats" and "welfare queens" and parents who abuse their children.

But it is a lot easier and cheaper to set a "one size fits all" category and dump everyone into it. Many innocent people suffer and society suffers at large.

Unfortunately the people now in power are addicted to a black and white mode of thinking, operating and legislating. Unfortunately such black and white ruling and declaration and sound bites win elections and are favored by the citizens at large who do not have to think too much - as long as they are not the ones caught in the net.

A topic that can have its own thread..

[ultraist]

103. If he was a minor when he comitted rape, his record will be sealed

It sounds like he raped someone of the same age. That is not pedophilia. Pedophilia is a different type of illness. They do give different diagnoses to different conditions.

If that guy raped once, while he was drunk, he may not have any illness. One act commited under the influence, does not meet the criteria for any diagnosis. There has to be other indicators to be given a diagnosis.

[noonwitch]

41. If they are caught young and treated

Some can be rehabilitated. Especially juvenile offenders who have been sexually abused themselves. There are some good treatment programs for them out there, and they can get treatment in the juvenile system.

So, first offense for someone over 17 but under 25 should be 10 years with mandatory psychiatric treatment and segregated from other inmates. They (sex offenders, not all inmates) also should be one to a cell at night, even though it's not cost effective.

Second offense should get life without the possibility of parole.

[fat free goodness]

43. Here's the reason you should not be conflicted...

Several people make the point that once a criminal has paid for their crime by jail time they should be free to reenter society like anyone else. Often what they mean is full restoration of rights such as voting, and possibly making it illegal to inquire into criminal backgrounds for the purpose of denying someone a job, credit, or restricting housing.

I argue that Jail time may be a punishment, a deterrent, and/or a chance for rehabilitation; it is emphatically NOT a "price" in the sense that "paying the price" negates the crime or cancels the other consequences.

In fact, other than that unfortunate phrase "he paid the price," there is no rational reason to think that a jail sentence is the only ( or even the most important) consequence of a crime. For example, if one embezzles money while in a position of trust, as a consequence others may clearly conclude they are less than trustworthy in such a position. Jail time may (or may not) be another consequence.
Going to jail obviously does not automatically mean the person again becomes trustworthy. To try to legislate that it does is silly.

This is especially true in cases where another offense is either particularly likely or would be especially unfortunate. For example, someone who has been convicted four times for burglary bears careful watching even though they have served all four sentences. And a person who has been convicted of pedophilia even once needs careful watching simply because the crime is so damaging to the innocent. (Statistics indicate that such people are at least somewhat likely to offend again, making the close attention even more important.)

[jandrok]

108. Spot on.....

Actions have consequences. The consequences don't end with the prison sentence. Exactly what I've been saying in my responses in this thread as well.

[AngryAmish]

44. I am against them

No conflict here.

[woodsprite]

45. How many people here who think sex offenders

should be considered rehabbed after their incarceration is over actually have children?

I have a sex offender in my family. My nephew had a history of being abused by his mothers' pediphile/sex abuser boyfriend who was released from prison after serving his time for molesting his own daughter. My nephew also forced abuse when he was a child onto other children. At 19 yo, my nephew sexually abused his sisters 3 children - 5yo and 3yo girls and a 1yo boy. DNA and other physical evidence confirmed it. He is now in jail in Ohio and should consider himself lucky that he didn't get the death penalty. He will be eligible for parole in approx. 20 years.

I love my nephew, but he deserved more than 20 years for 4+ counts on those children. He had been thru all kinds of counseling BEFORE he raped his nieces and hurt his nephew - not just office counseling, but in a juvenile treatment center before release back to his father. When he became of age, he quickly ditched his dad, a step mom who loved him and a good home/school life before graduation, to go live with his mom and her hubby.

There is no way I would want to live next to him, have him visit my house with my kids, etc. My kids know they have a cousin named Mark, and my oldest knows where he is and why. He's been given opportunity after opportunity. The saying "once a habitual sex offender, always a habitual sex offender" fits for most people unless they have extreme self control. There are so few of them who are successfully rehabbed, it's not worth risking the rest of the community just because someone feels offended at being labeled. For someone who has a history of habitual sex offense, they need to be registered and accounted for.

That's my personal opinion from experience.

[Az]

52. Got some numbers supporting that?

I understand the emotional response. But people keep claiming this myth that they always repeat the crime and cannot be treated. Please, post the numbers showing this. I keep finding evidence very very much to the contrary. Not only do they have a low recidivism rate but they are treatable. Please offer something other than the emotional revulsion we all feel to this type of crime. Lets deal with this rationally rather than as a screaming chorus of terrified parents.

[jandrok]

55. Would you willingly move YOUR family next to a sex offender?

That's the essence of the emotional response. The answer for me would be an emphatic "no".

[Az]

73. In todays system

I would not disagree with you. Vengence doesn't work. Treatment does. Our current system is focused on vengence rather than treatment. I am not saying you shouldn't be concerned. But there are solutions beyond throwing people away.

Furthermore this issue is a hot button topic the MSM loves to play. They exasterbate the problem. Even without treatment the chances of a person repeating the crime are far lower than the MSM makes it seem. Its all about fear and marketting it. And we are falling for it.

[jandrok]

80. But you haven't answered my question. Would YOU move......

....your family next door to a convicted sex offender? Would YOU offer him cookies and milk and the opportunity to come and play XBox with the kids?

The problem goes beyond effective treatment and recividism. You can never separate the emotional aspect of it. These individuals WILL be treated like pariahs in society because of their crimes. They WILL have to live with the conseqences of their actions as long as they live.

Dig deep and answer my question. Look for the emotional response in yourself. Numbers do not tell the story.

[Az]

100. Why would I invite an adult over to play with my kids?

Any adult? If I invite an adult over the appropriate thing would be to socialize with them. Not to have them bond with my children. If I see any adult trying to get close to my children beyond what I would expect was normal I would suggest to them to alter their behaviour.

As to a person convicted of a sex crime. How bout someone convicted of murder? Or burgalry? Either our system provides a means of reintroducing individuals into society or we may as well destroy anyone guilty of any crime. You either believe people can be redeemed or you believe they cannot change. Studies show people can change. Movies and TV tell us its ok to hate guilty people and treat them as animals. Heck why not kick them while their down. They are guilty after all.

[jandrok]

106. You STILL won't answer my question.

Look beyond studies. Look beyond numbers. Look beyond statistics. You simply cannot get to the core issues in play here unless you are willing to confront the emotional and social factors that affect how people react to having sex offenders in close proximity to their children.

You're looking at this with a very abstract viewpoint. What I'm asking is, are you willing to take the chance? Don't obfuscate the issue, just answer it straightforwardly. Would you, or would you not, willingly place yourself in a position where you have a convicted sex offender for a neighbor?

As to your other points, I'll agree that our justice system is woefully inadequate at providing training, treatment, and assistance to people getting out of prison. But you're stuck in a mode that says that once that person has served the time, that's it. They have paid their debt to society and now all can be forgiven and let's just let bygones be bygones and welcome that person back to society with open arms. Fact is, though, that ain't how it works. There are large social dynamics at play that determine how successful that person will be in getting back to a reasonable level of functionality. It's much worse for those convicted of committing violent or sexually related crimes. Does their punishment stop merely because the cell door opens, or do they have to wear the burden of their actions beyond the prison walls?

You know what MY answer is. Actions have consequences. Just paying the fine or doing the time DOESN'T give you a clean slate.
Rape a toddler and you DAMN sure better pay for it for the rest of your life.

[ultraist]

105. All of the research indicates that child molestors have low recovery rates

You keep making this claim that they are virtually harmless, but the fact is, pedophilia is an illness and there is no highly effective treatment for it. Additionally, many incidents of child sexual abuse go unreported, so the stats they do have, are lower than the actual numbers.

Look up the illness in the DSM IV or other diagnostic manuals and read up on types of treatment and their success rates.

Crack heads have similiar recovery rates. VERY LOW.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

128. Thank you for your excellent responses in this thread

I know this issue is very emotional. But keeping people that are sick holed away forever isn't the answer. Incarceration should be about rehabilitation, not sweeping the criminals under the rug.

[Mizmoon]

66. Where were his niece's and nephew's parents?

Why did his sister leave her children alone around a known sex offender?

[woodsprite]

72. They're dad was in the hospital with a heart

problem and their grandmom (my ex-SIL) was supposed to be watching them. He lived with his mom. She ran out after her daughter left and left Mark in charge of babysitting the kids. Yes, she and the my neice were both charged with child neglect and are serving 2 years probation. The the girls and boy are now living with their father and his parents. My niece and ex-SIL have supervised visitations every 2 wks during their 24-mo parole period. I don't know what will happen after that.

[Mizmoon]

78. I don't want to be hurtful

I really don't - but dammit, the parents have to be responsible. I hate sex offenders. Their crimes cause untold pain and damage. But parents have a responsibility here that is not being adressed here. The world cannot be Disneyland - it's dirty and dangerous. Parents must be the first line of defense.

That said, I hope that you've managed to keep things nice and smooth in your own life. I know what it's like to be related to wackos :)

[woodsprite]

89. Related to wacko's is definitely the case.

What mother would marry an ped/abuser anyhow, and truthfully, what judge would grant weekend visitations for children to a mother who was married to above said offender? He trusted her that her husband wouldn't be present when the kids were there for the weekend. The day her hubby was let out of prison was the day they got married, so she definitely knew about it.

My brother was granted custody of all 4 of their kids. The two youngest turned out fine. Being older (early teens) and a female, the oldest handled it differently and is very promiscuous. All four kids went thru child sexual abuse counseling.

I am so proud of my youngest niece and nephew (20 and 18 now). They have risen out of the mess their mom created and seem to be doing well. The youngest graduates from high school this year and is an honor's student who has technical school plans (custom autobody/airbrush design). These two were 2 and 4 when their mom left them. The counselor's opinion was that they were young, if anything happened, it didn't affect them nearly as much and the mom/boyfriend were probably afraid they would tattle.

[bloom]

74. I think at the very least

that people such as you describe should be on permanent probation after they have served their time - and that may or may not include some kind of therapy.

It should be based on the type of crime they have committed. The situation you describe would fit. A monitoring device would be in order as well.

It seems rather silly to me to have the system expending efforts at monitoring Martha Stewart - when we all know there are many people out there who pose a far greater threat to society.

[KarenS]

76. This is such a flash point subject. Let me clarify,,,,,

First, when I say no mercy for Sex Offenders ~ I mean Sexual Predators,,,, I don't mean statutory rape,,,, I mean violent rape,,,, blood, bruises, stitches, scars, threats of death. When we are talking about pedophiles, I am talking about ALL of them,,,, I have a special anger for pedophiles that are in a position of power over their victims (IE teacher, religious figure, parent/step-parent)

I openly admit that my life has been affected in more ways than I can count by, not one, but two Sexual Predators ~ separate & unrelated situations. I am generally a logical & merciful person, but not on this subject. Our current legal system is lacking and the use of it, rarely makes a victim feel better,,,,, Counseling and a network of support and time, blessed time helps dull the impact,,,,,

All the statistics in in world about rehabilitation and the pronouncements about vengeance not working, will not change how I think and feel about this subject.

Execution, life-time incarceration, Sexual Predator Island,,,, whatever,,,,, just get them the hell out of society!!!

[ScreamingMeemie]

60. No conflict here. I don't think they should be sent away, but most

will admit to having a problem. Knowing where they are is a key tool in protecting our children. If anything we need to be tougher on registering those who fall into the realm of sexual predator of children.

[he lied us into war]

65. Lots of criminals are likely to repeat their crime

And we still let them roam free. If a drunk driver kills a kid, he's not locked up for life even though it's near certain he'll continue drunk driving.

[Goldmund]

69. Many people commit crimes after they get out of prison,

sex offender or not.

It seems sensible to say "if you don't think they're rehabilitated, don't let them out of prison". But if they're out of prison, they are entitled to re-gain their citizenship rights. The fact that there are a few cases of past sex offenders commiting heinous crimes, that CNN trumpets over and over, doesn't change that principle.

[question everything]

94. The conclusion, therefore, is jail is not a rehabilitation place

and that we need to rethink our penal code. Sure, one goal is to punish, another is to protect society. But shouldn't protecting society mean rehabilitation?

As I have posted above, I think that released convicts should not live alone. Half-way houses or other forms of community living where they are never alone, frustrated, but are always being monitored - one way or the other - and are always being busy working on something.

I think that I am thinking Boys' Town for adults.

But, I suppose, "rehabilitation" is liberal speak, while "frying them" is what is being accepted these days.

Keeping all released criminals, including sex offenders, in some type of a community house should eliminate the fear of having a sex offender lives next door.

It all comes down to money, but when we see how much we spend on a far away war, on $20 million bonuses for CEOs on even regular jails that fail us... Would be nice if these type of discussions would rule politics, instead of "culture of life" and "moral values." Rehabilitating the "sinners" should be of a high moral value, not being a regular church goer. And, of course, we all know that being a "church goer" does not preclude one from being a sex offender - again, a different topic altogether.

[eissa]

85. No conflict here

My preference would be to lock them up in Abu Ghraib and have our guys (and gals) do what they wish with them. Of course, being a liberal, I'm not suppose to wish harm on anyone, so let's just say I'd be happy if they did not mingle with the public in any way. Flame away!

[skippythwndrdog]

87. A former friend is a pedophile.

He molested little boys. After he was released from prison, he told his brother that he had to go back to prison, or he'd hurt more children. He found kiddie porn on the web and downloaded it. He then called his probation officer and told her that he violated probation and also called the FBI on himself. He's now back in prison for thirty more years. He'll be over sixty before he gets out.

[MsMagnificent]

90. They don't stop. There is no cure.

They violated any rights the first time they violated a child.
Give any NAMBLA asshole half a chance and he'll talk to you oh-so-cerebrally about how child molestors aren't such bad guys, and its good for the children too! They try to piggyback upon Gay Rights when their target is not sexual preference, but predation upon the weak.

They are undeserving of any sympathy of any good people.

We have always removed predators in our midst. This is no different.

They gave up their rights so they could have an orgasm, didn't matter how it impacted our children.

No pity.
Perhaps mercy enough to live on the outside, but to be forever monitored for the predator they proved themselves to be, make no mistake, with their own actions!

[XemaSab]

97. Being a pedophile is like being straight or gay

Only their sexual preference is for children. They can't help it, and they can't control it, and they should be locked up for life.

The parents do have a responsibility to TRY to keep their children safe, but you can't always watch a child every moment. Sexual abuse has been going on since time immemorial; it's not just a "modern" problem that people who have kids today didn't have to deal with when they were growing up. Kids have to go to school, they have to be allowed to go to friends' houses, they have to be allowed to play outside, they have to be allowed to go to the park and be in little league or scouts. All these are places where they could be molested, and they're all places where parents have to trust that their kids are going to be ok or the parents will go crazy.

It's a community responsiblity to keep children safe, and that involves locking up pedophiles.

Edit: spelling

[Zynx]

99. Frankly, I think pedophiles should be executed or castrated, first offense

Other sex offenders such as rapists or people guilty of date rape or teenage statutory rape, not necessarily, but pedophiles are hopeless and should be permenently removed from society, one way or another.

[mordarlar]

109. We have to wonder WHY they receive such SHORT TERMS to begin

with. Far less dangerous, damaging crimes receive MUCH LONGER SENTENCES. There needs to be a more appropriate sentencing system.

Edited to add i am a supporter of Chemical Castration. I also feel therapy is essential. Particularly in young offenders cases.

[THUNDER HANDS]

111. Megan's Laws are unconstitutional

I see one of two solutions.

Everyone who has ever committed a violent crime gets a Megans Law notification attached to them.

or

We just kill all convicted sex offenders.

[Amaya]

112. I'm not conflicted at all

Sex offenders are very likely to offend again. They need longer sentences, if not life in prison and they need to be monitored at all times.

[hfojvt]

115. excuse you, Dru was in NORTH Dakota and even Minnesota

So quit bashing the SOUTH.

[question everything]

123. Ooops. Sorry. Did not mean to bash THIS South.. n/t

[MrSlayer]

116. Count me in as "blood thirsty".

If you kill the pedo immediately, you never have to worry about them doing it again. There is no cure, there is no rehabilitation and they shouldn't be a burden to the taxpayer. Death is a fitting and just punishment for child rape. If they would have been allowed to kill that asshole in Florida after his first pedo crime back in 1991 Jessica Lunsford would be playing with her dolls today instead of laying cold in her grave. In nearly every single case of child rape/murder the perp has had a history of doing similar things before. Pedophiles should get no sympathy and we should not be squeamish about doing the right thing. There is nothing I despise more than a child molester.

[mimitabby]

122. sigh...

a close relative of mine used to groom young men (teens)
he'd make friends with their families, ingratiate himself to everyone.
he actually had a job in a juvenile detention home and
used to get permission to take kids on weekend campouts.
(I called CPS myself when i heard about this one, from out of
state)
he finally was caught and is serving a life sentence in one
of CA's famous prisons.
He teaches ESL, safety, and reading to other inmates.
He is an incurable sex offender but he is contributing to society.
he does much better in a controlled environment. I think its
sad (for him) that he's locked up, but good for everyone else.
If he was free, he'd be getting loaded every night and getting into
mischief.

m

[TrustingDog]

126. no conflict here.. - I'd rip him apart by my own

bare hands, to ribboning death.

yeah, me a liberal supporting capital punishment, but only when All the Facts and Witnesses and No Doubt Exists. The freaks prey on CHILDREN.

fry THE FUCKERS! FRY THEM TO HELL AND BACK 14,000 FUCKING TIMES. I don't CARE if I'm not towing the fricken line here, I'm Not Jesus, and neither are you

[mimitabby]

127. hello?

the treatment of the least of our society is a measure of what
we as a society are.
these creepy men/women (there are a few women) deserve to be treated
with respect, even if it is behind bars.
lowering yourselves to the level of frying them makes you akin to Gonzales who has great excuses for torturing Iraqis.
m

[TrustingDog]

129. b.s.

so now I condone torturing innocent Iraqi's? oboy.

[H2O Man]

131. If there is a dog with

rabies roaming your neighborhood, and you shoot it before it bites your children, that doesn't mean you have rabies. Or if your child comes in and says there is a snake on the lawn that tried to bite her, and you chop that snake's head off, that doesn't make you a snake. My goodness, even Jesus said that anyone who harms a child would be better off with a heavy weight tied around their neck and thrown in deep water. I think Jesus said this for a very specific reason.

[bling bling]

133. I'm only conflicted when it comes to statutory rape.

A 15 or 16 year old teen-ager who willingly has sex with an older boyfriend or girlfriend, for example.

But aside from that, I think that we should spay or neuter them. Or better yet, spray them with Raid.

[NashVegas]

136. I'm Not Conflicted In the Slightest

As a person with direct personal experience with childhood sexual abuse, I can testify the 3 months-to-2 years the average perp gets (if even that) is nothing compared to the 30 years time I've done in hell.

I don't have any children. Big surprise, huh?

But if I did, and if a convicted molester or what have you were in my neighborhood, it would be as much for *their* protection as anyone else's that I have a clue. Because I'd go have a talk with the guy and tell him (or her) what could be expected if they tried anything. Because I would get a *lot of pleasure* out of personally kicking the motherfucking ass of anyone who'd mess with a child of mine.