Can sexual offenders be rehabilitated?

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I don't think you can say yes or no to a general question. I think looking at each case individually makes most sense.

I agree that it's not as black and white as we would LIKE it to be in most cases.

 

[FireDancer]

It depends on the circumstances of the offense. Are they "sexual offenders" because they took a pee in the woods? Did they sleep with a 17 yr old when they were 19? Did they molest a toddler down the street? Did they rape a girl in college?

The level to which their offense was merely an offense and not a sign of a pathology will very based on all of the circumstances of the offense. I do think there are some who can't be cured just like some thieves are kleptomaniacs but I don't think they all are.

The underlying problem is that so many varied offenses are lumped together into the "sexual offender" catch all. In some cases, like peeing in the woods, there is nothing sexual about the offense at all.

 

[lillygator]

I don't think pee'ing in the woods would get you labeled a RSO would it?

 

[Sparx]

I truly believe that rehabilitation is possible in most cases (of any sort of offense)

However, I do not believe rehabilitation is possible with the justice system we have now. Prison does not rehabilitate or produce productive members of society.

 

[terri01p]

 

[threecrazykids]

I have pretty strong opinions on this matter. I have known more than one person who has been wrapped up in the "sex offender" category where they do NOT belong.

1. I don't feel people who are charged with indecent exposure should be on the same list as child molesters/rapists. I personally don't feel that unless physical contact is made between the offender and the victim it should label someone as a pedophile/rapist as these "sex offender" registries.


2. The 18 year old guy who sleeps with his underage girlfriend also does NOT belong on this list.

3. The person who urinates in public and kids happen to see do NOT belong on this list. And yes...this has happened to 2 people I know, regardless of what the law states when you get some ticked off mothers who are bound and determined to "stop this behavior" you have no idea what these people are capable of doing. I know the law states that there has to be "intent to arouse" etc. but who is going to tell a child on the stand they are a liar. It was a horrible situation for all involved.

As far as whether or not "sex offenders" can be rehabilitated I guess you'd have to know what KIND of offender we're referring to. Because the 3 types above who have had to have their name on a registry like this?? YES...trust me, they won't EVER do anything like this again because their names are completely TRASHED in a community with no way of redeeming themselves and I truly think it's pathetic.

 

[happygirl]

I have pretty strong opinions on this matter. I have known more than one person who has been wrapped up in the "sex offender" category where they do NOT belong.

1. I don't feel people who are charged with indecent exposure should be on the same list as child molesters/rapists. I personally don't feel that unless physical contact is made between the offender and the victim it should label someone as a pedophile/rapist as these "sex offender" registries.


2. The 18 year old guy who sleeps with his underage girlfriend also does NOT belong on this list.

3. The person who urinates in public and kids happen to see do NOT belong on this list. And yes...this has happened to 2 people I know, regardless of what the law states when you get some ticked off mothers who are bound and determined to "stop this behavior" you have no idea what these people are capable of doing. I know the law states that there has to be "intent to arouse" etc. but who is going to tell a child on the stand they are a liar. It was a horrible situation for all involved.

As far as whether or not "sex offenders" can be rehabilitated I guess you'd have to know what KIND of offender we're referring to. Because the 3 types above who have had to have their name on a registry like this?? YES...trust me, they won't EVER do anything like this again because their names are completely TRASHED in a community with no way of redeeming themselves and I truly think it's pathetic.

I have heard of people that are sexting and send nude pictures of themselves and those receiving them can also be on sex offenders

 

[entropy63]

I have heard of people that are sexting and send nude pictures of themselves and those receiving them can also be on sex offenders

if you have teenagers doing they can and will be charged with child porn.

 

[FireDancer]

I don't think pee'ing in the woods would get you labeled a RSO would it?

I'm sure it isn't always the case but it sure could get you on it.

Having the list be as broad as it is actually takes away from its effectiveness. At the very least any online list should have a link to the court case since it, baring being sealed for some reason, will be in the public record. At least then people can make an educated conclusion as to whether the person on the list is dangerous, made one mistake in life, or shouldn't even be there.

 

[threecrazykids]

I have heard of people that are sexting and send nude pictures of themselves and those receiving them can also be on sex offenders

That is absolutely true. It all starts with the "intent"...

There was a girl in a local high school who at yes...13 years old...sent pics of herself naked to her boyfriend who was 17. When they broke up he forwarded the pic to all of his friends out of spite. Guess who now is on the registry (even though a minor and it's not published). The parents of this girl are who really piss me off. Yeah, she's embarassed and yes he's in the wrong, however he is gonna be labeled the rest of his life. She might be known as "the girl in school who..." but she won't have a problem getting an apartment or a job etc. I don't know if it will stay on his record as an adult...but I'm guessing it would for 10 years at a minimum.

In a small town I think these issues are much more prevalent.

 

[OceanAnnie]

If you are talking sexual offenders that have convicted and served time, no.

Now they can refrain from molesting however that does not mean they are "cured".

I agree with MM.

 

[wdwfan16]

The risk is too high to take the chance. So I vote no.

 

[freckles and boo]

The majority of CONVICTD offenders who receive treatment do not re-offend. Some do, but most don't. The problem is that nobody can predict who will be successful.

http://www.csom.org/pubs/mythsfacts.html

 

[overlyspoiled4sure]

I also vote no; the detective we spoke with also said no. Those creeps should never be allowed to see the light of day again if convicted & sent to prison. Too bad so many wives/girlfriends of these creeps never believe their daughters & keep him around. Maybe if the abused kids were believed, more of these creeps would be put away. What wife/girlfriend would want the guy around if it was suspected he was a sexual predator??? They're better off raising their kids alone IMO.

These jerks lie so much they end up believing their lies & don't think they're wrong & that the girls are to blame. What child (especially those under 12) would make this junk up??? Believe your children people!! Especially believe your children when there's evidence to prove it!!

 

[MizTink]

ABSOLUTELY NO.
i think they (child molesters) should all be executed.

 

[happygirl]

ABSOLUTELY NO.
i think they (child molesters) should all be executed.

Wow you realize there are many people that get the title of sex offenders that have never done anything to a child.

19 years who date older teens
Those people you hear about that send nude photos of themselves and send it to there boyfriends/girlfriends and then they somehow get passed around to everyone at school. The sender and the receiver both get labeled sex offenders.

Do these people deserve to die

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

Wow you realize there are many people that get the title of sex offenders that have never done anything to a child.

19 years who date older teens
Those people you hear about that send nude photos of themselves and send it to there boyfriends/girlfriends and then they somehow get passed around to everyone at school. The sender and the receiver both get labeled sex offenders.

Do these people deserve to die

She specifically said "child molesters," not the broad "sex offender" term. I don't think the example you cited is what she is referencing.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

I was going to make a similar comment - under most state laws "sexual offender" is defined very broadly. But a true sexual offender, such as a rapist or child molester - I really don't think so.

I agree with this.

 

[happygirl]

Okay, let me say I think people who physical hurt child are scum of the earth, but I think they deserve a second chance. I truly believes everyone can change if God is in there lives.

 

[mykidsand_i]

Ok, I'm going to say NO, HECK NO! BUT, I too, believe that getting the title of 'sex offender' needs to be changed! A 19 year old guy having 'relations' with a 16/17 year old girl (WHO HAS AGREED TO DOING IT!!!!) should not be given that title! It happened back in H.S. with a classmate of mine. The girl went to a college party, had sex with a 19 year old when she was 17 (told the guy she was 18) and then the mom found out because the girl got pregnant and the mom brought this guy to court- the poor guy never got to finish college, now has to register EVERYWHERE he lives, has very firm rules on where he can and cannot live, and his life is ruined! IT TAKES TWO to mess around!!! No matter how mad a parent is, if it's not 'rape' there is noooooo way a guy should be punished like that! What's everyone (who's younger) supposed to do? Ask for ID just before they get it on? Yeah, that will happen. If they can't remember to/don't want to 'ruin' the moment with protection, why would they think to ask for an ID?

The other story I have heard since I work at the school is this...
There is a 18 year old girl who took pictures on her cell phone in the locker room of two over-weight 16 year old girls. She texted them to a bunch of her friends and most of the football team (this was back in Nov.). Well, the picture taking went back to her, now she's going to court and may loose everything! She had college scholarships (local ones that she's now LOST), was going to Univ. of Minnesota in the fall and a life of luxury living at her parents million dollar home in a 'high end' community here in our town.

I don't think she should be listed as a 'sex offender/distributor of child porn' but she probably will be.

On the other end, these two girls who's pictures were shown to everyone have had a very difficult school year (one has even tried to commit suicide!) and feel completely violated, they will until they go off to college and can get away from all these people who have seen them naked! So, I don't know what to do in that situation, but this idiot 18 year old girl and the rest of the people who have sent these pictures on DEFINATELY need some type of punishment. It needs to be as severe as it can be so they'll learn. BUT, they shouldn't be listed on the sex offender registry.

That brings me to another thought. What has the world come to now that this can actually be allowed to happen AT ALL??? What insane dumb person takes pictures, sends them and IS NOT SMART ENOUGH to realize that they WILL get caught? HOW DUMB do you have to be?

A REAL sex offender, one that has raped, molested or sent bad pictures of children...they don't have THE CHANCE to get better because of our legal system and jails/prisons. MAYBE SOME of them COULD be cured, but they've never really had the right kind of therapy to actually make a difference in their lives. There is a guy in our church that has a brother who has 're-offended' after being in jail for over 10 years. He 'became a good christian' while he was in there, he even started a bible study with other inmates. The urge was so strong to 're-offend' that he couldn't control it. This is a mental problem/illness that people have- to them it's not a choice. Some even realize it's a problem, they just can't control it. Many people can resist from re-offending, but it takes ALL OF THEIR POWER to do so. And after they get off that year or two of probation, they are 'watched less' so the chances are that they 'slip into the system' and could probably get away with re-offending and no one even finding out about it.

Even if they DON'T do it again, they still have those 'urges' and it's a TON of mental work not to do it. Just because they don't do it, doesn't mean they are 'cured'