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Sex Offender Treatment Works

By Jeralyn, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 03:16:20 PM EST
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Not surprisingly, the capture of recently released sex offender and accused Denver rapist Brent J. Brents is sparking protests over the release of sex offenders. But those who are claiming sex offenders can't be treated are wrong. Treatment while in prison dramatically reduces the risk of recidivism.

A 2003 Corrections Department report evaluating the treatment of sex offenders.... found three of every four sex offenders who received no therapy reoffended, compared with one in every six for those who completed the first phase of treatment. The rate improved to one in 10 for those who finished the second phase in a minimum-security facility for sex offenders. The study examined the records of 3,338 sex offenders.

The report also states that "current Parole Board members are extremely reluctant to release sex offenders who refuse to participate in treatment."

So hold the cries for longer sentences and instead demand that sex offenders be given treatment while in prison. For those that refuse treatment, parole boards likely will keep them in jail. Many states allow for civil commitment of sex offenders after their prison terms are up.

Treatment works. States should make it mandatory. With more and more states, including Colorado, setting life in prison as the top end of the sentencing range for sex offenders, parole boards have the option of keeping the most dangerous offenders in prison while allowing those who have become rehabilitated to re-enter society.

More studies:

Barry Maletzky, MD and Kevin McGovern, Ph.D. of The Sexual Abuse Clinic of Portland Oregon followed about 5000 offenders treated in their clinic and similar clinics between 1973 and 1990 using behavior oriented methods. About 3700 of these were pedophiles -770 were exhibitionists. The remainder were referred for a variety of other paraphilias. Criteria for "success" included:

* No re-arrest
* Self report of no maladaptive sexual behaviors
* Reduced deviant arousal maintained post - treatment as verified on penile plethysmograph
* "Significant other" ratings of patient behavior

Using these stringent measures to follow some men for as long as 17 years post treatment, success was achieved with 94.7% of heterosexual and 86.4% of homosexual pedophiles. Rapists showed 73.5% success, exhibitionists and public masturbators about 92% , with men referred for various other paraphilias ranging from 100% for zoophiliacs to 80% for frotteurs. These data do not represent a controlled study, but the sample is large and with success criteria as stringent as they were, the data gives strong indication that treatment is effective for a great many offenders.

Another study: Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment (Vol. 14, No. 2, 2002.

Similar success has been had with sex offender treatment for juveniles. Here are some numbers from a Texas study:

The capital offender and sex offender programs were found to be particularly effective in reducing violent offenses:

* receiving any sex offender treatment reduced by 47% the likelihood of sex offenders being rearrested for a violent offense within one year; and

* only one of 257 (0.4%) sex offenders receiving sex offender treatment was rearrested for a violent sex offense within one year and only four of 219 (1.8%) of sex offenders receiving treatment were rearrested for a violent sex offense within three years.

In Vermont, a study showed only a 7% recidivism rate among treated offenders after a ten-year period.

Hunt County, Texas strongly advocates treatment, including placing some sex offenders on probation so they can obtain treatment that is not always available in jail:

The bottom line is that many offenders are just not appropriate for community supervision. For offenders that have a long history of sexual abuse or violence, indicate high risk, or show no interest in changing their behavior or thinking, prison may be the only way to adequately protect the public. But for those deemed appropriate by the courts, community supervision can benefit the public.

Hunt County CSCD believes that the history witnessed with the SOAP and other programs like it across the nation demonstrates that it is possible to properly supervise offenders in the community without sacrificing public safety.

Hunt County concludes:

After spending five or more years in the Texas prison system without treatment, would anyone expect that they would emerge more responsible, more empathetic, and less sexually deviant?

....a reduction of just 1% in recidivism pays for the treatment of all treated sex offenders by reducing costs related to investigations, prosecutions, and incarceration (and research shows that sex offender treatment is more effective than that).

Brent Brents refused sex offender treatment in prison. At the time he was sentenced, there was no indeterminate sentencing range providing for up to a life sentence, as there is now in Colorado. If he is guilty of this week's crimes, he needs to be locked up. And, he will be. But there are thousands of other sex offenders around the country who should not be lumped in the same boat as Brent Brents. One-size-fits-all justice is no justice at all.

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    Sex Offender Treatment Works | 46 comments (46 topical)
    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 01:15:06 PM EST
    I would agree with that, I'm related to someone who is one of the success stories. After 21 years in the air force being indoctrinated into what the air force considers to be acceptable (and encouraged) behavior, he tried it on US soil and was convicted and sent to the state mental facility in Las Vegas, NM. He was patrolled, and later pardoned by the governor so that he could get his military pension back. Even though he is out of the system, he still visits his court-appointed psychologist once in a while for anger management issues (he has a temper that's pretty short). But overall, he's in very good shape, and nobody, not even his victim who he stays in regular contact with, is in the least bit worried that he will re-offend.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 01:17:41 PM EST
    That being said, short of castration and a lobotomy, I don't see Brent Brents having any kind of rehabilitation. Life in prison is a good choice for that individual.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 01:19:08 PM EST
    Michael Ditto: Show me where the air force says his behavior is acceptable. Show me where it is encouraged by the top. That is like saying teachers having sex with their students are encouraged by the NEA and the teachers union. So many are doing it, they must be!

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 01:53:10 PM EST
    Unfortunately 10% equals 334 children or women or men who have been violated to one degree or another. I don't think the anti treatment crowd would be appeased by this argument. In todays climate I don't think a 1% (33.4) repeat offense would pass muster, no matter how unfair it is to those who were successfuly treated. Remember these people have zero tolerance for elementary school kids who bring an aspirin to class.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#5)
    by roy on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 02:00:08 PM EST
    All other factors being equal, treatment is better than a lack of treatment. But a 1-in-10 recidivism rate hardly says "it works" to me. It says that even with prolonged, professional therapy, these people are still much more dangerous than the general population. (Assuming the later offenses are of similiar or greater severity; the article doesn't specify)

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 02:53:08 PM EST
    Many of the people in the system are in fact not child raping rats but are victimized and victims of the politically laws. here are some facts. over 50 percent of males were under the age of 20 and had sex with a 16 to 18 year old girl of boy, some have beat killed in prison after being used by the gangs and political system of prison. in 2004 sex-abuse claims directed at clergy were almost 1100, out of this new claims 22 were new. some of the claims of child rape go back 20 or 30 years, or about 800 old claims, and this is only for 2004. the fact is about 75 percent our not real but only for the bucks, but 25 percent are for real, remember justice is not about right of wrong but about howm much money is in the bank. but after all isn't about god, when it "comes down to the clergy" by the way didn't some 60 year old parole board guy get caught with a 16 year old girl? was it that state? this admit it thing also comes from the ideals of the communist party boys and what if the guy didn't do the rape? and by the way its only about control and not real security for our little people.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 03:07:12 PM EST
    Coyote: Read your history books. It is an indisputable historical fact that the US military set up officially sanctioned brothels staffed by underage girls in Thailand and the Philippines.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#8)
    by roy on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 03:41:41 PM EST
    Michael, which history books? I just read a history book, and it didn't say anything about brothels.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 04:04:45 PM EST
    So, let me see, if NC has 2,743 sex offenders in state prison then only 274 of them will, you know, try to rape my son (9 or 3) or daughter (6)? Not my idea of good odds. Perhaps they should live in your neighborhood? Oh, my, NIMBY. -C

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 04:36:21 PM EST
    The death penalty works too. It may be true that innocent people are put to death from time to time, but it is incontravertible that murderers who are put to death never murder again. Will TalkLeft now abandon it's practice of opposing the death penalty on the grounds that it works? Actually, the death penalty is probably a better solution to the problem of sex offenders as well. There are few things you can do to someone that are more degrading than forcing yourselves onto them sexually. Such an offense is worthy of the death penalty, and dead rapists do not rape again. Why settle for 90% when you can achieve 100% easily?

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#11)
    by BigTex on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 04:59:46 PM EST
    Actually, the death penalty is probably a better solution to the problem of sex offenders as well. Not a good idea. If you ensure that needle stickin' is th' end result o' conviction fer sex offenders then th' offenser ahs a greater incentive t' commit rape-murder. Why not? Th' punishment range will be th' same, but th' likelyhood o' conviction is lessened. No victim t' testify, means th' prosecution has one less tool t' use t' go after th' perp. Besides some states consider forms o' public lewidity t' be a sex offense. If we're goin' t' kill them, then they've sudden'y got reason t' graduate from public ledity t' rape-murder. It's good t' hear that th' recedivism rates are droppin' fer sex offenders. Perhaps one day th' FRE will be changed t' give them th' protection murderers and terrorists receive. Not that I'm in favor o' sex offenders, but th' ones who don't repeat are in a world o' trouble. They pay fer th' sins o' their brotheren. Th' system doesn't give them th' protection they deserve. You know th' sayin' better t' let 1 gillion guity go free....

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 05:04:38 PM EST
    Right Tex. We'll see how you feel when it's your little girl who has been raped and the offender's lawyer is arguing that he really just needs counseling. Besides, the argument being offered is that counseling works. Well, the death penalty would work too. If effecacity is the criterion, then the death penalty for rape beats counseling, as it would be 100% affective against recidivism.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 05:22:34 PM EST
    Michael Ditto: Roy beat me to it. Which history books? Which department in the DoD paid for them? I tihnk you are confusing the Japanese military of WWII with the US. et al: what should be done to the Sex offenders who repeat their crimes? Give it another try at reform? What do we do with the offenders that refuse treatment?

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#14)
    by BigTex on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 05:37:30 PM EST
    JP - yer emotions are keepin' you from thinkin' objectivley. Show me where I said that th' perp shouldn't be punished? You can't it's not there. Yer solution, though, gives incentives fer th' offender t' compound th' harm done. Also, about th' argument. Of course there needs t' be punishment, but there's not a good reason t' not give treatment alongside punishment. Finally, even if there is punishment, once th' punishment has been served, then th' punishment shold end. With murderers it does. With assaults it does. With terrorists it does. It doesn't with people who sexually assault others. Their past convictions follow them through th' criminal system forever, even after they are finished with their stint in th' system. Before you respond, take some time and think about this from an objective standard, rather than an emotional one.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#15)
    by roy on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 06:20:34 PM EST
    Finally, even if there is punishment, once th' punishment has been served, then th' punishment shold end. With murderers it does. With assaults it does. With terrorists it does.
    Well, no. Felons in most states can't vote, can't own guns, and can't work certain jobs. Terrorists can't fly.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 06:30:15 PM EST
    I had the "pervert talk" with my son tonight as part of his "bobcat trail" badge for Cub Scouts. His mom'd already had that talk with him but we had to go over it as part of the rules. Amazing how the world has changed. -C

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 07:02:39 PM EST
    Cliff the world hasn't changed as much as you think-- it just gets more press nowadays. Any increase in gross numbers is likely an increase in reporting combined with an increase in population--twice as many people, twice as many bad guys.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 07:58:01 PM EST
    I favor longer sentences for sex offenders.While I would hope with all my heart that sex-offenders could be rehabilitated, a ten percent repeat offender rate is not good enough. I believe treatment should be made available to these offenders, especially as many of them were themselves victims as children, but only as a chance for them to heal psychologically. We should never give sexual offenders the opportunity to harm more innocent victims. Sex crimes destroy lives, and that's too high a price to pay for giving them a second chance. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I know it only too well. I have forgiven my abuser, but if he had been kept in jail when he offended the first time, I might not have suffered at his hands.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 09:29:58 PM EST
    It's a strange thing that folks don't support treatment that will clearly reduce the number of new victims. Treatment works. It reduces crimes. It's not a cure. It just reduces the probability of new offenses. This country has become a strange and hostile place. Many of the same folks who want to lock up sexual criminals for life will make excuses for similar crimes against detainees. Sexual repression creates some twisted and ugly human beings.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 09:33:54 PM EST
    Many forget that the great sex-abuse inquisition began in the 80's with the Federal Government paying prosecuters and courts directly to prosecute any and all charged with this type of offense. Who can forget that recovered repressed memories are allowed as testimony in 37 states? One estimate places 6,000 currently in prison for sex abuse based solely on testimony from recovered repressed memories. Who cares that women are estimated to commit these crimes against children as equally as men, but State mandated interview techniques attempt to shift a child's testimony about a female to a male. Many states have an 8 level technique that progresses from asking the child who perpetrated the act, and if not getting the proper answer as desired by the interviewer, ratcheting up the force of the interview until the interviewer tells the child who the perpetrator is and forces the child to acknowledge it. And it's of no consequence that many States consider the parent child relationship sacrosanct, so an incestuous parent will not be prosecuted if getting treatment, and will not be listed as a sex-offender on state roles if prosecuted (is your Scout Master a parent). Recidivism rates are the lowest for any crime. California has been registering offenders for 50 years. Their rate is 2%. Many states report rates as low as 3%. It probably makes no difference that sex-abuse of children is an attempted charge in 50% of all contested divorces. Of course, perspective has no place in an emotional discussion, but in 2002, 2,867 children were killed by guns (this does not include the 1,500 or so who committed suicide by gun). 8,836 children were killed in car wrecks, about half of those involved alcohol. Close to a million children were injured in car wrecks. I realize this discussion is being revised by the administration once again to help blunt criticisms or awareness of other problems. I've seen it before. Some story about an unpopular governmental action and BAM! Roll out sex offenses to distract the citizens in the Coliseum. The general trend is to punish these people forever in some form or other. They receive a sentence and then run the gauntlet of mental institutions, no housing, no job and no community to be a part of. Churches nor shelters allow them in. If you want revenge, you have it in spades. If you want ex post facto laws, you've got them. Just realize that these same standards can be applied to any of you here on the flimsiest of evidence, and for any crime. I had the "pervert talk" with my son tonight as part of his "bobcat trail" badge for Cub Scouts...Amazing how the world has changed. Amazing how entitled some people feel. My parents did the talk 40 years ago. Most reasonable parents do. Those who think they shouldn't have to believe that the entire world should believe their miserable little snot-spewing child is precious and special. I assure you, the world does not. BTW: In my state, if you are in a public bathroom using one of those open bathtub like urinals and a child can see your tool while you are urinating, you are considered a sex offender. Welcome to the brave new world, citizen.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#21)
    by BigTex on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 11:49:28 PM EST
    Felons in most states can't vote, can't own guns, and can't work certain jobs. Terrorists can't fly. Roy - nice try, but that's part o' th' rule scheme that applies t' everyone. You've got a point about terrorists, but even then they get preferential treatment when compaired t' sex offenders. FRE (federal rules of evidence) doesn't allow past convictions t' be used as fodder in all cases except sex offence cases. FRE has special rules t' allow fer sex offense crimes t' be admitted into evidence. Special rules have been set up t' penalise a second time th' sex offenders. Here's th' problem with admittin' th' prior convictions. Th' offender may not have committed th' new crime, but th' jury's likely goin' t' convict because o' th' history. What does that leave? One who is not guilty in prison, and one sex offender on th' loose free t' strike again.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#22)
    by Che's Lounge on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 11:55:56 PM EST
    Cliff, If you go to this website, you can see all the registered sex offenders living in your neighborhood. Now ask yourself, wouldn't you feel just a little better about your child's safety knowing every one of these individuals, who are out there right now, had gone through this program?

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 01:54:37 AM EST
    No, you do not cure such as this. You eradicate it before it hits ... home. Politics of Crime indeed. There's no politics, no negotiations, no ... mitigation when it comes to child rape. It should result in the ultimate removal of the perp. Period. Only a childless person would feel otherwise.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#24)
    by ras on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 02:03:01 AM EST
    Simple question: Would you let a treated sex offender babysit your kids? y/n?

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#25)
    by soccerdad on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 05:39:56 AM EST
    Ras, no In wouldn't Of course I wouldn't let you either.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 06:11:42 AM EST
    Klaatu that was great, but Remember our system is not about innocent or guilt or right or wrong, its about the show. evidence has nothing to do with our political system of non justice, and what did happen with the government investigation, we all know that one, it was killed, along with some people who were talking way to much.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 07:16:45 AM EST
    Simple question: Would you let a treated sex offender babysit your kids? y/n? Then why do you let alcoholics drive on the same roads your kids use? Have you accounted for parents killing 1500 of their kids per year, or being the primary sex abuser of children? So, would you let a drunk or a parent babysit your child?

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#28)
    by Che's Lounge on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 09:00:28 AM EST
    Cliff, Sorry I didn't link. Google your state and "sex offender registry". You may then enter your address and a map will come up showing all the registered sex offenders in your area.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#29)
    by BigTex on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 09:44:38 AM EST
    Simple question: Would you let a treated sex offender babysit your kids? y/n? No, but that's a straw man. Rare is th' day I'll agree with Fred Dawes, but this is one o' those times. Th' prudent course o' action is t' give th' offenders councilin' while caged. Th' benefits o' councilin' are enough t' make th' costs worthwild. This isn't a situation o' councilin' or punishment, and it's not a situation o' councilin' gives automatic release. Even with councilin' th' perp can still be civilly caged if he's a continuin' threat t' sciety. It's a situation o' punishment with councilin' or punishment alone, and th' ability t' civilly cage those who would do harm. Th' reactionary comments here lead t' exerbatin' th' problem rather than tryin' t' cure th' problem. Statements like No, you do not cure such as this. are facially untrue. Callin' fer needle stickin' fer sex crimes only causes th' crimes t' escilate. Clear thinkin' won't lead t' cures fer many social ills, but this is one area where some clear thinkin' will help t' ease th' problem.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 10:30:22 AM EST
    Tex, Your argument against stricter sentences due to the possibility of escalation, if taken to it's natural end, would mandate the least possible punishment for every crime. I doubt you would like living in a society where the punishment for murder is a $50 fine because anything more harsh might lead the perpetrator to commit an even more violent act in an attempt to avoid prosecution.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#31)
    by roy on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 10:31:42 AM EST
    Clear thinkin' won't lead t' cures fer many social ills, but this is one area where some clear thinkin' will help t' ease th' problem.
    Apparently sex offenders, with the benefit of our best and most expensive treatments, have a 10% chance of reoffending after release. Saying it's not "clear thinking" to suggest we should be very harsh with them seems odd to me. I wouldn't drive a car that has a 10% change of crashing. I wouldn't carry a gun that has a 10% chance of going off in my pants. I wouldn't hire an employee who has a 10% chance of stealing from me. I wouldn't accept a check that had a 10% chance of bouncing. It might not be the very best solution to treat sex offenders like 2nd-class citizens after release, but I don't think it's unclear thinking. Also, could you please provide a Perl script you strip out your Texas accent? I'm a Southerner too, but all your apostrophes get in the way of understanding your points.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#32)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 11:22:21 AM EST
    ...but all your apostrophes get in the way of understanding your points.
    i thought that was a trick strategy to force commentors here to contemplate the point; that put brain in gear prior to mouth (fingers) going in moition, thingy.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#33)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 12:07:45 PM EST
    Che - I have that on-link and check it monthly. However the data is well known to be out of date and incorrect, so I'm not sure what use it is. I am going to have a background check (third this year!) in order to be the assistant scoutmaster in my son's troop. A good thing, I think. -C

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#34)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 12:42:32 PM EST
    I am going to have a background check (third this year!) in order to be the assistant scoutmaster in my son's troop. A good thing, I think. Unless you're in a state (generally red) where parents who had sex with their children are not listed on the perp rolls. Then it becomes an excercise that makes YOU happy, but is a moot point otherwise. I wouldn't drive a car that has a 10% change of crashing. Since the greatest danger to a child is their parents and thins their parents do, do you think you should send your kids away to protect them?

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#35)
    by ras on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 04:12:05 PM EST
    Soccerdad, You must be one angry person to make the sort of vile insinuations that you do. I hope some day you can learn to enjoy the human race again; they really are a good bunch, mostly.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#36)
    by soccerdad on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 04:42:50 PM EST
    Ras, I only get angry at dishonest, duplicitous, uncaring, amoral, self-rightous people like yourself who get their jollies by disparging everything we believe in.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#37)
    by Che's Lounge on Mon Feb 21, 2005 at 06:31:50 PM EST
    -C, This is my point. Is it not logical to have each of those dots be someone who has gone through treatment? Don't the stats show it works? Your kids will be safer. Isn't that the goal? It's not a panacea. But statistically it's BETTER.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#38)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 22, 2005 at 04:31:33 AM EST
    Personally I don't care if sex offenders are getting the crap beat out of them daily in prison. If any of you lefties want them in your neighborhood, take 'em. Considering the odds in favor of reoffending once out, the more that get beat to death in prison, the less you will have to be concerned about later. I LOVE sex offender registration. Recently I learned of a person who sexually abused the daughter of a friend being released from prison and was able to make sure I stopped by his place of employment (a chain restaurant) and informed the manager I would no longer be eating there until he quit hiring sex offenders. It is not against the law to voice your opinion. Now THAT'S freedom of speech and freedom of the marketplace. F**K 'em. Whip 'em from town line to town line till they are dead.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#39)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 22, 2005 at 07:12:20 AM EST
    F**K 'em. Whip 'em from town line to town line till they are dead. Lets hope your kids don't have a recovered repressed memory of you abusing them when they grow up. Then we can look at you a say "F**K 'em. Whip 'em from town line to town line till he's dead."

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#40)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 22, 2005 at 08:09:33 AM EST
    Klattu... Since the greatest danger to a child is their parents and thins their parents do, do you think you should send your kids away to protect them? Dude... you are really grasping at straws here. Please read the response from "kate" above.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#41)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 12:18:29 PM EST
    I believe that sex offenders should be placed on death row, for the simple fact of what their victimizing does to others, exspecially a child, they take something from them that can never be given back, and they are scarred for life, something that the sex offender cannot relate to.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#42)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 23, 2005 at 03:19:35 PM EST
    As a registered sex offender, I find these comments interesting. Locking people up forever or killing them is just not a viable option. Most offenders will be released again at some point, so ignoring the fact that treatment works is probably not the smartest idea. Most sex offender registrations are not lifetime either, mine will end in several years. Also, registrations depend on the offender for accuracy, little to no verification is done on the information provided. I believe registrations either provide people with false sense of worry or security most of the time. (I'm not advocating ending them, just pointing out their limitations.)

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#43)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 24, 2005 at 04:06:22 PM EST
    The use of corrections based Tx resources for statutory offenders is a waste. Pedophelia has no cure per say but with long-term Tx some can learn to control impulses. In many States violent Predators may be civilally committed. Once commited they often are never released. No recidivisim there. The biggest problem with Sex Offender Treatment is - it is often provided by State sponsored orgs in less than efficient ways. The people on the top making the decisions related to resourse allocation are often uninformed and motivated by politics as opposed to public interest. Too often the State efforts are directed by people with the intellectual equivillency of a retarted monkey. Its rather unfortunate.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#44)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 09:49:07 AM EST
    MYTH: Sex Offender Legislation is proposed and enacted based on valid studies. FACT: This legislation - from the state, all the way up to the top - is based on little more than emotional high-jacking for political gain. If you doubt this, do a search for Politics and Irrelevance: Community Notification Statutes by Eric Lotke. Megan’s law was enacted at the blink of an eye, with not only little data to support the likely success of such legislation - but also little regard for the collateral damage that would occur. It’s a sad day, when our elected officials care more for their political profile, then they do for the overall good of their communities, as Mr. Lotke suggests. There is no greater motivator, then fear, itself. MYTH: Laws like Megan’s Law and state SOR’s have reduced the incidence of sexual assault. FACT: There is absolutely NO evidence to show that there is any beneficial effect as a result of SOR’s. None. Zero. Nil. Zilch. Now this doesn’t mean that there isn’t speculation…. but speculation isn’t very useful, and in fact - is very biased. And since these laws have a dreadful, revolting impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, - shouldn’t the margin of error be tightened up? It sometimes astounds me how little people understand of the ramifications of this legislation. The world of sex offense laws are either black or white. There are no shades of gray. [remainder deleted due to length]

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#46)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 10:21:21 AM EST
    Here is an informative and accurate article that just surfaced. This is yet another side of many, to the SO tragedy. If you have teenagers, you might better take a look. Links deleted, not in html format. This commenter is limited to four comments a day and urged to read the comment policy on this site. Future violations will result in banning.

    Re: Sex Offender Treatment Works (none / 0) (#45)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 10:23:58 AM EST
    Part II This isn’t just about the individual who preys on and ‘exploits’ little children repeatedly, with no remorse. These laws are directed at a multitude of behaviors that cover a broad spectrum of human sexuality - from those NOT appropriate nor acceptable, to others that are fairly common, and even in some cases, completely unintentional or ’accidental’. For example, what about the third grade boy who while chasing a girl classmate at recess, trips over her foot. This throws them both off balance and they tumble to the ground. In the midst of this ’flailing’, the boy’s hand happens to brush against her private area. At the time, she doesn’t even consider it. But as the day wears on, she recalls the many talks that have been directed at the children, to not be afraid to ‘reveal’. She mentions the incident to her father that night. The father is furious and immediately goes off and calls the school superintendent, threatening to sue if steps aren’t taken. Within hours, law enforcement is knocking at the door for information, soon followed by Social Services. Without question, the young boy’s life is about to be changed forever. There will be a local news story (with no names, naturally). Every student will know about it, through each other. He will undergo sex offender therapy. He will not be allowed to be alone with other children. The neighbors will not feel comfortable to let him come into the house to play. Essentially, he will be viewed through the eyes of law enforcement - and hence, everyone else for that matter - as a ‘future’ offender. This is just one example of many, many more. Now perhaps you might be thinking, “…gee, if this can happen to a little boy - what’s to stop it from happening to me?…GREAT question!! And the answer is -ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Feel safe now??

    Sex Offender Treatment Works | 46 comments (46 topical)