Legal, they did put him and the victims into professional counseling. They tried what they thought would help to stop the abuse. Once Josh received professional counseling, he stopped offending.

Parents are not mandatory reporters. When Child Protective services were notified about the abuse, they investigated and interviewed Josh, the girls and the parents. If they didn't think the parents didn't do anything or enough to protect the girls, then the children would have been removed.

Legal, you obviously think the parents should have thrown their child under the bus. I personally, would prefer that the victim and abusers are able to seek help without being labeled and lives distroyed.

http://www.thestranger.com/blogs/slog/2015/06/05/22341874/savage-love-letter-of-the-day-what-should-the-duggars-have-done

Thanks for posting this article @Thought!

This is why getting law enforcement involved is so terrifying:

"I know kids who have gotten the help they needed because their parents called the police and the court required them to complete a treatment program for sexually abusive behavior. And I know of kids whose parents called the police and they were sent straight into a detention facility for a very long time and then were released without ever completing the treatment that they needed."

Still didn't like the article thought because she just needs to say it more simply. It's just really round about. My take on what she said is that both victims and abusers need professional therapy. Police will get involved when you get professional therapy, and she has seen good outcomes and bad outcomes when police get involved.

I think she could've spoken more to treating this is a mental health problem instead of punishment in the justice system, especially for child offenders. She spoke a little bit to how society ha stigmatized coming forward and reporting but she ultimately decided professional help is more important and throwing Josh under the bus would've been best.