Duggar interview

[Buzz-Light-Beer]

The parents have always been really weird on there views of what is right and wrong. To cover up something like this and think it is just fine is terrible. Josh Duggar needs help and they think because the parents covered it up and brainwashed those girls his sisters(the victims) that they should forgive and forget is just sick. I really feel sorry for those girls as they are probably dealing with some really terrible problems from this and there parents are telling them to just forget about it and forgive there brother.

 

[mnrose]

I really can't get over the whole "He said he was just curious about girls" thing... Is this something that abstinence-only programs teach? That normal teenage-boy "curiosity" can result in sexually molesting your SISTERS? In what world would a parent sit and listen to their 14 year-old son say those words, and not IMMEDIATELY take action? (Like... action action, not get-down-on-your-knees action).

Were it not for the statute of limitations these people would be in jail.

As a society, we really need to reexamine the statute of limitations regarding *** crimes.

My son has been "curious" about girls too. He hasn't touched his sister's private parts though. He (like the vast majority of teen boys) pretty much knows that is beyond wrong. Sure, boys are curious. That part is completely believable. Touching your sister (or your mom) isn't the way to satisfy that curiosity. That's for sure.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

My son has been "curious" about girls too. He hasn't touched his sister's private parts though. He (like the vast majority of teen boys) pretty much knows that is beyond wrong. Sure, boys are curious. That part is completely believable. Touching your sister (or your mom) isn't the way to satisfy that curiosity. That's for sure.

That's because most teenage boys will find a curious girl of about the same age to be "curious" with. A neighbor, someone from school, etc. NOT their younger sister(s).

 

[OhMari]

The girls may have forgiven their brother, but they will never forget. I wondered why the 2 girls didn't have Josh in their wedding. Michelle and Jim Bob should have remained quiet, but guess what, they even sold their interview to a tabloid. It is always about money.

 

[Laura66]

The girls may have forgiven their brother, but they will never forget. I wondered why the 2 girls didn't have Josh in their wedding. Michelle and Jim Bob should have remained quiet, but guess what, they even sold their interview to a tabloid. It is always about money.

I wish they would have not given the interview. I can't stand this family - but my heart is breaking for the daughters who were named and have to have this played out all over the news.

 

[Dizlvr]

I wish they would have not given the interview. I can't stand this family - but my heart is breaking for the daughters who were named and have to have this played out all over the news.

I agree, and its sickening the way they are profiting from this story. I don't respect them for pimping out their lives, and the lives of their children anyway, but there is a line that should be drawn when it comes to making everything into a "show".
They should have just made a statement that they will not be discussing this situation with the public out of respect for their daughters.

 

[gwynne]

I agree, and its sickening the way they are profiting from this story. I don't respect them for pimping out their lives, and the lives of their children anyway, but there is a line that should be drawn when it comes to making everything into a "show".
They should have just made a statement that they will not be discussing this situation with the public out of respect for their daughters.

I think it's quite telling that they really have no sense of how they appear. There was no rush to get help, and maybe that had something to do with making sure the statute of limitations worked in their favor. The overall strategy seems to be minimize, obfuscate and tell a some untruths. Love the sinner, hate the sin, and umm...sorta forget about the victim. Gosh the girls were asleep or too young to know what happened, and on and on.

 

[Laura66]

I agree, and its sickening the way they are profiting from this story. I don't respect them for pimping out their lives, and the lives of their children anyway, but there is a line that should be drawn when it comes to making everything into a "show".
They should have just made a statement that they will not be discussing this situation with the public out of respect for their daughters.

Exactly.
And I'll repeat it again - while I cannot stand this family - I wonder how many of us would really broadcast this to all our friends and family. So - while it is disturbing - I'm actually respecting them for turning this over to some sort of authorities. It doesn't excuse what happened - but if we (most of us) are really honest with ourselves - we would probably deal with a situation like this - quietly.
Fourteen is a curious age - and had he had more of an opportunity to be with other children of both sexes he might have had an opportunity to "be curious" with someone his own age who wasn't a sibling.

 

[cabanafrau]

He was 15 so he was not a pedophile but you are when you turn 16.

Not true, speaking as matter of law.

 

[cabanafrau]

Sadly, I would venture to guess that a large majority of sexual abusers are never arrested for their crimes.

That is true.

 

[jenrose66]

I think the interviewer should have asked if the family has concerns for Josh's daughter. I find it alarming that someone who never had proper help now has daughters he can prey on.

 

[cabanafrau]

He wasn't ARRESTED at all. Doesn't that tell you anything? This crime goes underreported. The fact that most are never rearrested does NOT mean they do not reoffend. Not by a long shot.

According to one of the top experts in our metropolitan area, a professional who evaluates adults and juveniles for court systems here regarding their propensity to reoffend, juvenile offenders are evaluated quite differently and most are not wired to becomes serial offenders.

 

[gwynne]

Not true, speaking as matter of law.

cabanafrau, Would you explain about this? I'm not taking JB's word on issue of our son was 15 NOT 16 so therefore he's not (can't be?) a pedophile.

 

[SMD]

That's because most teenage boys will find a curious girl of about the same age to be "curious" with. A neighbor, someone from school, etc. NOT their younger sister(s).

Most kids have been given some basic sex ed or education about anatomy long before they turn 14. He didn't even have access to an encyclopedia, a library, television or regular playground talk from other kids.

cabanafrau, Would you explain about this? I'm not taking JB's word on issue of our son was 15 NOT 16 so therefore he's not (can't be?) a pedophile.

He was wrong about the definition of a pedophile. He said it's an adult who preys on children. It's someone who is sexually attracted to children. Period. Also, the context was defending Michelle. She didn't call transgender people who use the women's restroom child molesters, she actually said pedophile, not child molester and their son couldn't be a pedophile due to his age anyway.

There's a federal law that anyone 14 or over convicted of a tier 3 sex crime becomes a registered sex offender. I'm not sure what the law was in 2002-3, but what he's admitted to isn't tier 3. But there is no hard limit where the offender needs to be 16 for all crimes either.

Edited to add:
Also, "pedophile" is not a legal thing, it's a medical thing/mental disorder. Fox and a Megyn Kelly just let that comment about "legal definition" stand uncorrected. I just saw that snippet used on the local news. I worry that people will hear the Duggars say things like that and not report offenders under 16 because they think there's nothing to be done legally, which is completely untrue. Those girls needed court appointed guardians, not their parents in this situation.

 

[cabanafrau]

cabanafrau, Would you explain about this? I'm not taking JB's word on issue of our son was 15 NOT 16 so therefore he's not (can't be?) a pedophile.

I did not see the interview. My comment was merely that juveniles are charged and prosecuted as offenders all of the time. I've seen many 12 year old offenders in the system. We are not talking going to prison. This is handled within a juvenile court setting. Many of them are placed under house arrest where possible. This is done to avoid criminalizing juveniles where possible -- meaning it's considered preferable to keep a curious and motivated "exploring" youth who's offended away from the influence of a criminal element involved in theft, drugs or other violent behaviors so they will not fall under that influence and walk out of their "punishment" with a whole new bag of tricks. Most of these in fact do not grow up to be ongoing predators.

This will probably make everyone flip out, but it is often preferable to keep those offenders who present as likely incentivized to become serial offenders under house arrest also. This is done to try and limit their access to victims and is pursued when parents or guardians have demonstrated they are fully onboard with all treatment protocols and are fully engaged in the treatment process. Extreme supervision is put in place here and quite frankly these offenders more often than not break rules and wind up held in the system or under supervision as long as possible. Generally these are cases where they wind up on the registry as a youthful offender because it is recognized they may indeed wind up as lifelong offenders if left unchecked. It is also preferable to pursue house arrest here to not only limit the potential to reoffend, but especially important to avoid hooking up a potential predator with a college level education in all matters of criminality, that's gasoline on a fire for sure.

 

[cabanafrau]

I think it's quite telling that they really have no sense of how they appear. There was no rush to get help, and maybe that had something to do with making sure the statute of limitations worked in their favor. The overall strategy seems to be minimize, obfuscate and tell a some untruths. Love the sinner, hate the sin, and umm...sorta forget about the victim. Gosh the girls were asleep or too young to know what happened, and on and on.

Unless they sought legal counsel at the time, I don't see this brain trust being savvy enough to understand the ins and outs of the tolling of the statute of limitations.

 

[Dawnlight]

I didn't watch the interview and I've really got no interest in either the family or this story, but one thing that crosses my mind when I see stories like this is how society views teens in such different lights. A 14 year old who does this is called a monster, pedophile, predator, should have known better, and on and on. Yet, a 14 year old who has sex with a teacher or someone older than them by even just a few years is thought to have no way of knowing what was happening, is just a victim, is too innocent, was manipulated... So which is it? I'm sure I'm not making my point very well; but it just seems to me like it can't be both.

 

[gwynne]

Unless they sought legal counsel at the time, I don't see this brain trust being savvy enough to understand the ins and outs of the tolling of the statute of limitations.

They did hire an attorney in 2006. There are details from that time of refusing an interview with a detective. And I agree with you that they didn't figure this out, but it sure looks like their attorney might have realized what was in the parents and son's "best interest". Ugh. Once again forgetting the victims.

 

[cabanafrau]

Truthfully, in the lives of John and Jill Q. Public the repercussions of an incident like the one that's apparently taking shape in this case would not have ongoing or long-lasting legal repercussions. As I understand the situation it would have been handled largely under the umbrella of a protective services case, as this one was, in family and/or juvenile court supervision, as this one was.

As unsettling as it is to hear, incidents like this happen and families go on. Some families continue on fractured. Some families heal, including forgiveness. It's not forgotten, but if they can move on and salvage family bonds, that is their right and their business. The fact this family participated in reality TV doesn't change their right to do so. The fact that this family lives a less than mainstream lifestyle doesn't negate their right to do so. What I would do, how I would feel or act doesn't affect their right to do as they will.

For all of the so called public concern for the victims, IMO this circus is victimizing in a horrible way. Now even when they express anything in their own words it's brushed aside as untrue. Who gives anybody that right to speak for them?

 

[AnAmericanInDisney]

JNot being arrested again is not the same thing as not acting inappropriately ever again. Jim Bob himself said that someone who worked at a youth *** offender facilities told him the success rate isn't very good.

Yeah, I don't think it would be possible to have statistics on people who haven't been arrested as a teen or who don't get arrested later but still offend. That's not something people would admit to on a survey.