Doubts Rise as States Detain Sex Offenders After Prison

New York Times ^ | 3-4-2007 | Monica Davey and Abby Goodnough

[joeystoy]

Confining sex offenders past their terms has almost never met a stated purpose of treating the worst criminals until they no longer pose a threat.

[PeteB570]

That's because they will always pose a threat.

[R.W.Ratikal]

Sex offenders, especially those who commit sex acts against children should be carefully watched after they serve their prison time.

There is no cure, there is no chance of rehabilitation. Only old, old age kills, if not the desire, the ability to commit sex crimes. After say, age 85. they can be safely left unmonitored.

[joeystoy]

Correct. So what's so difficult to understand? The article states that post-prison confinement costs $185,000 per year.

I say that it's the one instance where our tax dollars are being well spent.

Forget the stated intention of the "rehab" programs. The implied intention is to keep these monsters off the streets until they're dead... I mean cured.

[ClaireSolt]

All we ever see anymore is sex crimes. Selective crime coverage, I think.

[PeteB570]

My solution to people who hurt little children only costs about 30 cents. Less if you use an off brand.

[metmom]

There's only one *treatment* that is effective in guaranteeing that guys never again pose a threat.

[libertylover]

Leroy Hendricks, a convicted child molester in Kansas, finished his prison term 13 years ago, but he remains locked up

Sorry, but this is wrong. A sentence of X years should mean a sentence of X years. If we intend to keep them locked up for life, then the sentence should be Life, not X years.

[LtdGovt]

Why spend $185,000 per year? Why not just hand out longer prison sentences?

[LtdGovt]

Sorry, but this is wrong. A sentence of X years should mean a sentence of X years. If we intend to keep them locked up for life, then the sentence should be Life, not X years.

THIS is wrong:

Hendricks subsequently requested a jury trial to determine whether he qualified as a sexually violent predator. During that trial, Hendricks' own testimony revealed a chilling history of repeated child sexual molestation and abuse, beginning in 1955 when he exposed his genitals to two young girls. At that time, he pleaded guilty to indecent exposure. Then, in 1957, he was convicted of lewdness involving a young girl and received a brief jail sentence. In 1960, he molested two young boys while he worked for a carnival. After serving two years in prison for that offense, he was paroled, only to be rearrested for molesting a 7-year old girl. Attempts were made to treat him for his sexual deviance, and in 1965 he was considered "safe to be at large," and was discharged from a state psychiatric hospital. App. 139-144.

Shortly thereafter, however, Hendricks sexually assaulted another young boy and girl--he performed oral sex on the 8-year old girl and fondled the 11-year old boy. He was again imprisoned in 1967, but refused to participate in a sex offender treatment program, and thus remained incarcerated until his parole in 1972. Diagnosed as a pedophile, Hendricks entered into, but then abandoned, a treatment program. He testified that despite having received professional help for his pedophilia, he continued to harbor sexual desires for children. Indeed, soon after his 1972 parole, Hendricks began to abuse his own stepdaughter and stepson. He forced the children to engage in sexual activity with him over a period of approximately four years. Then, as noted above, Hendricks was convicted of "taking indecent liberties" with two adolescent boys after he attempted to fondle them. As a result of that conviction, he was once again imprisoned, and was serving that sentence when he reached his conditional release date in September 1994.

Hendricks admitted that he had repeatedly abused children whenever he was not confined. He explained that when he "get[s] stressed out," he "can't control the urge" to molest children. Id., 172. Although Hendricks recognized that his behavior harms children, and he hoped he would not sexually molest children again, he stated that the only sure way he could keep from sexually abusing children in the future was "to die." Id., at 190. Hendricks readily agreed with the state physician's diagnosis that he suffers from pedophilia and that he is not cured of the condition; indeed, he told the physician that "treatment is bull----."

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Just shoot the bastards and they wont pose a threat to anyone. I cant think of a more heinous crime than those against children.

[D-fendr]

Your example argues for a much longer sentence. Seems like a three strikes rule would come into effect somewhere.

A sentence is a sentence. You can't keep a burglar in jail past his sentence because he's a threat to burgle again.

I'm for longer sentences, strict monitoring on probation, etc. Not for "detaining" anyone past the sentence they were given. That way leads to "pre-crime".