There is an interesting article in the Houston area Champions Sun about the Texas sex offender registry. Dr Jerome Brown who has treated some 400 sex offenders since 1984 says it’s a myth that sex offenders are repeat offenders.
Labeling someone as a sex offender for life is problematic, according to Brown. Studies on the topic have only been released in recent years, however, the research does not indicate that tagging individuals as sex offenders is effective, he said.
“It’s actually more detrimental because they have trouble living a normal life. They’re permanently on the outside,” Brown said. “This can often be destructive because he’ll give up and won’t try to do or make his life better.”
Gee, you mean setting someone up for a lifetime of systematic state sanctioned persecution isn’t conducive to making someone more socially responsible. I’m stunned!
Brand [sp] said there needs to be a change in the risk assessment of sex offenders, with those on the highest level being monitored extensively and those on the lower end not being monitored at all.
“A 16-year-old who’s had sex with a 13-year-old is treated and often regarded as the same fixated pedophile that’s attracted to children, but they are different as night and day,” Brown said. “One is a kid that made a dumb mistake and the other is a very dangerous predator. Should they be treated the same?”
The comments are just as interesting as the article and, surprisingly, all are sympathetic to arguments against the sex offender registry. One points out how nice it must be for these state paid doctors to determine how long these offenders need treatment.
Think about it, what a business to be in, you have the state funneling your clients in your door on a daily basis and depending where you are in your “business plan” and possibly how greedy you are you can make money hand over fist for a very long time.
Another comment notes the disproportionate punishment that sex related crimes bring.
Yes, there are terrible people out there who do terrible things. But we don’t punish the person who shoplifted a pack of cigarettes the same way we punish a bank robber. Why are we punishing a person who looked at pornography on an office computer the same way we punish someone who commits rape?
Another commenter asks why other serious crime is treated so much differently.
Question…where can I click on a button on the internet to find a website showing where convicted murderers, aggravated robberers and other violent felons are living in my community?? NOWHERE!
Overall, a good article, not that we’re likely to see sex offender registries overturned anytime soon. Those who commit sex related offenses will probably always be fair game for persecution.
Sex offenders in St. Tammany parish, Louisiana were required to post this sign on Halloween or face jail time. According to 