I know that many of us believe that. Society, in general, seems to belive that pedophiles are *never* sorry* and can *never* change their behavior.
Fortunately, experience and research shows this to be at least a questionable assumption.
While listening to a national talk show about the proposed Florida law setting the proposed penalty for child sexual abuse at 25 years to life, a psychiareitst (psychologist?) who deals with this issue called in. According to him, certain classes of offenders (e.g. men who abuse their own kids) are easier to help than others so he opposed that penalty for first offenses in all cases.
My main concern is that when we make a sweeping claim like this a part of our culture, we help insure that someone struggling with this temptation (there must be some point at which some perps are struggling) we ensure that they will not seek help. Thus, we may be helping to perpetuate this horrible crime.
Check out hte web site: http://www.stopitnow.org for an alternative approach to stoping abuse.
Rather be safe than sorry.