Mr. Crawford has presented a very well written and thoughtful article. Every point he makes is true.

Unfortunately, the content of that article will fall on deaf ears as long as politicians know voting for sex offender laws and restrictions is a ticket to being re-elected at each election.

This country, particularly in recent years, has a tendency to politicize or moralize social issues. In fact, many of the issues facing us as a nation will never get the attention they deserve as politics always seems to find a way to get involved. Climate change, abortion, gay rights, gay marriage, immigration policy, women's rights, are all moral or social issues yet they have become political hotbeds across party lines.

Even such issues as foreign policy is used to further enhance politicians status.

In many ways advocates for reform are like a voice crying in the wilderness as they are not heard. Things are changing for us and they will continue to change, but don't expect that silver bullet to emerge that will get rid of our problems all at once.

But we ARE making progress. Every time we educate one of our fellow citizens, we are one step---albeit a small step----toward our goal.

rewdiazepam

It is excellent and it is from a victims right group which makes it all the more excellent. That someone on that side is seeing the truth that how we handle this is broken.

Articles like this give me hope!

Over the years this country has treated issues which are a mixture of criminal justice issues AND medical issues as purely a crime issue.

One reason the War on Drugs was a failure is that we treated drug addiction purely as a criminal justice issue, when it was actually a medical issue. Yes, many addicts did break the law, but their actions were because of an addiction. Even some of the small time dealers were addicts even though they profited off the misery of others; many sold drugs to support their own habit.

If all the people who went through the criminal justice system had received intense medical treatment instead of prison, we would have fared much better. Probation plus a long mandatory treatment period would have been much better, but the public yammers for a "tough on crime" stance which includes prison----with little in the sense of rehabilitation.

Drug rehabilitation works in many of the cases. I know. In my line of work I saw many people with addiction problems clean themselves up and become productive members of society.

In a sense some sex offenses should also be treated in much the same manner as substance abuse addiction. Yes, of course, the perpetrators need to be punished, but many low level offenders----viewers of CP and those so lonely that they seek the companionship of an underage female over the internet---- need mental health treatment, not 60 years in prison. I have noticed that many younger defendants suffer from a mental disability such as OCD. autism, ADHD, or some other mental disorder. They could be helped but the political climate in this country prevents any meaningful measures to help the offender.

Let's be honest here. Many people in prison are not evil people, but they are sick people, suffering from a mental health issue that has never been adequately addressed.

rewdiazepam

It's an excellent article and I'm impressed that it comes from a victims group but so spot on. How many people do keep it a secret because tho they want the abuse to stop, they love the abuser and don't want their family ripped apart or the be made to hate the abuser.

Very good article. Thanks for posting it.

Well stated. Unfortunately, Rew is quite right. I think part of the problem is that we live in a sound bite world. This issue has immense complexity. But more articles like this will go a long way. People have to hear these things many, many times before they are able to make sense of them. There will always be the people who cannot concieve of anything that is other than black and white. But, most people come around in time and this article proves that even something this complex can be presented in a concise enough way to make the important points.