rpsabq – Exactly. I often say…where were you when they were being harmed?

On a side note….people may commit a sex offense but unless they continue to go around offending people sexually, they are not a sex offender. List or no list…no one else gets a label nor should those trying to right their wrong. 🙂

This is a wonderfully thoughtful response. Thank you!

The idea that those convicted of a sex crime are incapable of change is simply not true. This belief that people on the registry will continue to be a threat to society is simply not true. The greatest danger to children are the people who have not been caught. I say that you are wrong because I will stand here as an example. I screwed up ten years ago by answering an ad on Craigslist. I was fighting depression and anger and engaged in cheating on my wife. I walked into a police sting and threw away my career in medicine and academics. Nearly lost my wife and family. I have worked hard to redeem myself despite the harassment from misguided people, law enforcement, and spammers. I’ve been turned down for jobs that I’m over qualified for, I’ve been homeless and separated from family because of probationary policy. So please don’t tell me people can’t change. I accepted my punishment and vowed to never make the mistakes that led me to that awful day.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, however to believe sex offenders can “never change” is to believe that the cycle of abuse can never end. Abuse is cylical. Many of the sex offenders you cannot support today were once abused kids you hold so dear and the violent, unrepentant monsters of the headlines you have in your head aren’t who we’re even talking about.

Regardless of any of that, do you really want to live in a country where the government can force people into homelessness and be denied housing assistance because of a crime they committed often decades in the past? Even using your logic, that sex offenders are horrible people who can never change, means that those people are just roaming the streets. Does that sound to you like a policy which creates safe communities and protects children?

I believe Darrick is expressing his disagreement with the linked article. That’s why his claim contradicts it.

Of course, the view Darrick is expressing— that we should not invest in treatment and rehabilitation of former sex offenders— is an unusual one for someone who claims to believe in child safety.

I just read the article that the gentleman provided a link for and I’mconfused by his response, since the “proffesionals” stated that there was a 1-3% recidivism rate for treated offenders. Seems like that should put his concerns to rest !

https://www.stwnewspress.com/can-child-sexual-abusers-be-rehabilitated-experts-weigh-in-on-treatment-and-likelihood-of-reoffending/article_b24e0cae-2d24-11ec-9c5f-dfbff078df36.html

[FAC: Cited article contradicts comment claim that “[registered sex offenders] who will never change”. Approving for discussion purposes.]