Families of SOs Community Group
WE HAVE MOVED!!! ............................. ............................... ......................... ............................ ............................. .......................... HERE: http://support-for-families.boards.net ............. ................ ............... ................ ............................... .................Please create a profile...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/05/20/minnesota-tv-reporter-asks-tough-questions-about-sex-offender-laws/
"Finally, even with the more serious sex crimes, the question we should be asking is, What’s the best way to reduce the incidence of these crimes? not What other punitive things can we do to these people?"
"There’s an argument to be made that anyone who victimizes a child in person, whether it’s fondling or a brutal rape, should be imprisoned for life — both to punish the perpetrator and to keep him or her from hurting others. There’s also an argument to be made that if those who commit the less serious crime can be rehabilitated after they’ve served their time, public policy should facilitate that rehabilitation — not because we don’t believe fondling a child is a serious offense, but because it’s the best way to keep other children from being victimized.
Whichever approach you prefer, our current policy is the worst of all worlds. We let those who commit the less severe crimes serve out their sentences, then we either hold them indefinitely, which makes a mockery of the law, or we release them but then make it impossible for them to rehabilitate, reintegrate into society and have a normal life — thus making them more likely to reoffend."
Someone else sees the truth.
"Finally, even with the more serious sex crimes, the question we should be asking is, What’s the best way to reduce the incidence of these crimes? not What other punitive things can we do to these people?"
"There’s an argument to be made that anyone who victimizes a child in person, whether it’s fondling or a brutal rape, should be imprisoned for life — both to punish the perpetrator and to keep him or her from hurting others. There’s also an argument to be made that if those who commit the less serious crime can be rehabilitated after they’ve served their time, public policy should facilitate that rehabilitation — not because we don’t believe fondling a child is a serious offense, but because it’s the best way to keep other children from being victimized.
Whichever approach you prefer, our current policy is the worst of all worlds. We let those who commit the less severe crimes serve out their sentences, then we either hold them indefinitely, which makes a mockery of the law, or we release them but then make it impossible for them to rehabilitate, reintegrate into society and have a normal life — thus making them more likely to reoffend."
Someone else sees the truth.
There needs to be a simple understanding that when it comes to this legal issue that it is complex. Every case is unique. Every case has its story. Every case has its own motives. The most aggregious and heinous are paying their debts to society or may not ever come out to see our side. Nevertheless, their families are hurting and the media needs to also focus on the collateral damage of these policies. Lifetime registries do not do a thing. It does not sweep away the fact that this sexual behavior can be modified and can be rehabilitated.
I am preaching to the choir. I know! Everyday there are 2-3 people in the paper who are now going to be registered sex offenders. Pretty soon, as these laws change we may all find ourselves on that registry. URGH!
And he is saying, "Whichever approach you prefer, our current policy is the worst of all worlds. We let those who commit the less severe crimes serve out their sentences, then we either hold them indefinitely, which makes a mockery of the law, or we release them but then make it impossible for them to rehabilitate, reintegrate into society and have a normal life — thus making them more likely to reoffend."
The fact that this is being talked about like this in a large publication like the post gives me hope for the future.