It is understandable and necessary to protect children and the vulnerable, but the data show that our lawmakers, our justice system is failing badly but still moving at lightning speed to permanently punish and lock up anyone whose sexual interest is determined to be abnormal. For many in law enforcement, the intention was to protect children, but our ignorance of sexuality and the serious study of it led to the disaster we have now.
In a very telling presentation, Dr. James Gilligan, a psychiatrist and former director of mental health services for the Massachusetts prison system, did an experiment on violent offenders. He, with the help of volunteer faculty, gave 300 prisoners a college education. They received bachelor’s degrees. When the former violent offenders left prison, they tracked these men for 30 years. After 25 years, what was the recidivism rate? Keep in mind that the current recidivism rate in prisons is about 70 %. Keep in mind that 90% of all people will get out.
After 25 years, no one, not one person, went back to prison. After 30 years about 3%. Dr. Gilligan shared this great and promising news with the then Governor. The Governor’s first response was to shudder the program. The Governor said that if we give criminals an education then people will kill people in order to get a free education. Gilligan commented that maybe everyone should have a free education. Gilligan’s recommendation was based on evidence over 30 years. The Governor’s response was based on scare tactics with no evidence, one that is punitive and lacks a basic understanding of the prison population: many cannot even read
Okay, so “violent offenders” had no recidivism once they earned their bachelor’s degrees. That is awesome, but were they able to find gainful employment, commensurate with their degree?
On the other hand, if you’re a non-violent “sex offender” (simple possession of CP) even with a master’s degree, no one will hire you. Unless you can get someone else to pay for your higher education, or you’re being paid to attend, don’t waste your time.
So we have people in this country who are basically condemned for life because of CP, but the Saudis get off “scot-free”. Am I missing something here?
https://www.vox.com/2020/1/13/21064133/pensacola-saudi-military-child-porn-anti-us-barr
If you have the time to read this entire article, it is powerful.
The author, Earl Yarington, is writing a book about civil commitment and the effects of the registry on family members. He has asked that we share some of our stories with him. I will soon have some information for you as to where to send your family members’ stories.
Wonderful article. I love this excerpt and believe everyone should see it:
This is not a decision that should be made over the meaning of “civil” and “punitive” because if a hospital is not really a hospital because it doesn’t and cannot treat, then what makes a lifetime commitment beyond one’s sentence “civil” and not punishment? Would any Supreme Court Justice, lower court, or prosecutor like to sit in civil commitment?
In sum, how can the Supreme Court be serious? To someone being strapped in a Pakistani Chair, it makes little difference if one calls it torture or enhanced interrogation. It hurts just the same. It’s a human rights violation. At present, the Court passed on protecting one of the most vulnerable and voiceless groups. This is not about disgust or emotion, it’s about judicial ethics and discipline.
I knew the answer to this study they did before reading it. I got out of prison in 2010, luckily my PO was cool and let me go to college. My first year English class I did a research paper on education being there number one way to lower recividism. It was well received by my professor and others in the dept. My classmates, not so much. This was 2011 I believe, so it still holds true, and the first thing cut in the state of Florida is education. This is not a RC specific issue but a state wide issue. My argument then and still is that we all loose by not educating the prison population because it leads to more crime and more victims.
Ah yes, the ever typical politician, anything that would contradict typical beliefs must be swept under a rug. I mean we simply cannot have the public believe that these or any kinds of criminals can be rehabilitated and successful, why that would contradict the whole reason for locking people up to make money.