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Experts say it's a mistake to label young sex offenders as 'deviants'
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | 7/11/05 | Lillian Thomas

Posted on 07/11/2005 2:47:06 PM PDT by Crackingham

Of 100 children who engage in sexual activities with other children in situations that involve some pressure or coercion, one or two might be charged. If you label the kids who get caught deviants, then you are labeling a lot who don't get caught as well, said Dr. David Kolko, director of the collaborative program for juvenile sexual offenders run by the Allegheny County juvenile probation office and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.

"Should we change our view of what's deviant? Some are deviant," and should be removed from situations in which they can harm others, said Kolko. But the vast majority are engaged in behavior that is typical of many children their age.

"That doesn't mean it's good. It can be harmful. But this society has such a mixed attitude toward sexual behavior. We display it everywhere. We glamorize it. At the same time there are public displays of outrage over sexual activity."

The very fact that child offenders are that -- children -- means that they are still developing, still capable of change, Kolko said. They are often amenable to programs that steer them in the right direction.

Franklin Zimring, an expert on juvenile justice who is a professor at the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, last year published "An American Travesty: Legal Responses to Adolescent Sexual Offending," a critique of public policy based on emotion rather than data. He agreed with Kolko that the kids arrested for sex offenses are doing what many, many others their age are doing. That is not to minimize the effect of such behavior.

"I think adolescent dating and early sexual interaction is some of the most harmful stuff on earth, criminal or not," said Zimring. "There is a lot of potential for harm.

(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: deviants; juveniles; psychology; sexoffenders

1 posted on 07/11/2005 2:47:06 PM PDT by Crackingham
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To: Crackingham

Are two 9 year olds playing "doctor" deviants...no. But if they're having sex and bragging about it...well yeah...


2 posted on 07/11/2005 2:50:17 PM PDT by RockinRight (Democrats - Trying to make an a$$ out of America since 1933)
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To: Crackingham
children who engage in sexual activities with other children in situations that involve some pressure or coercion

Amazing, this sounds like rape to me but not to this expert!

3 posted on 07/11/2005 2:50:22 PM PDT by rocksblues (I support the war on terror)
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To: Crackingham

Experts are being more agressive in pushing their efforts to legalize pedophilia. When would experts like to call any sex with minors as deviant? or is this the same group that wanted to remove pedophilia from the DSM.


4 posted on 07/11/2005 2:53:36 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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To: rocksblues

any child having sex is deviant. These "experts" are trying to say children having sex is normal?! that sick!

These experts are devaints.


5 posted on 07/11/2005 2:58:17 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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To: Crackingham

Somebody should point him to the case of that guy in WA (Duncan?) who killed an entire family, kidnapped their kids, abused them both and killed one of them - and apparently had a record dating back to when he was about 12. That was the first time he was caught, at least, raping a younger child.

Needless to say, Duncan got to spend many years in "treatment" (he did get one 10-yr stint in jail) before finally going on to kill 4 people and destroy several children emotionally and spiritually, counting the ones he had managed to work in on parole time.


6 posted on 07/11/2005 3:00:50 PM PDT by livius
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To: Crackingham
Experts say it's a mistake to label young sex offenders as 'deviants'

Better to call them deviants than have them grow up thinking it's normal.

7 posted on 07/11/2005 3:00:58 PM PDT by scott7278 (Before I give you the benefit of my reply, I would like to know what we're talking about.)
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To: Crackingham

And .. these people are the bleading heart liberals who defend all the deviants and don't keep them in jail. The same people who help the deviants to molest children again.


8 posted on 07/11/2005 3:09:20 PM PDT by CyberAnt (President Bush: "America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth")
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To: Crackingham
"Kids?" Who's talking about "kids?" Almost no one. But instead of addressing what everyone is talking about - namely pedophiles - we get this tripe from the MSM about "child offenders."

I guess the deviant psychiatrists who let these insects loose on society are trying to change the subject.

9 posted on 07/11/2005 3:16:58 PM PDT by Reactionary
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To: Crackingham
If you label the kids who get caught deviants, then you are labeling a lot who don't get caught as well, said Dr. David Kolko, director of the collaborative program for juvenile sexual offenders run by the Allegheny County juvenile probation office and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.

What??? This person is a Dr.? Should the ones who get away with it not be labeled? Is getting away with it normal?
10 posted on 07/11/2005 3:22:16 PM PDT by Wolfhound777 (It's not our job to forgive them. Only God can do that. Our job is to arrange the meeting)
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To: thompsonsjkc; odoso; animoveritas; DaveTesla; mercygrace; Laissez-faire capitalist; ...

Moral Absolutes Ping.

More and more articles about children getting damaged by others - whether adults or other children. Some people say that there have always been such crimes, just more reporting. I don't think so. The over-sexualized culture, the glorification of sluts and pimps (aka "celebrities"), the elimination of virtures such as modesty and chastity, pornography posing as sex-ed, huge increases in illegitimacy, the normalization of pornography - and the SCOTUS in its insanity legalizing child porn as long as it isn't using "real" children - no wonder stuff like this happens.

There are guidelines of how humans should live, and how we should utilize the powerful sex desire. They are consistent in every religion, and deep within the core of the heart we know what they are, if we listen. But when the culture shouts and screams the opposite, it's hard to hear. And whose lives are destroyed or damaged?

Freepmail me if you want on/off this pinglist.


11 posted on 07/11/2005 3:23:02 PM PDT by little jeremiah (A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, are incompatible with freedom. P. Henry)
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To: RockinRight

Well, if not with deviancy, one could always label them with perverted turpitude. So, one could still use "pervs" and "turps".


12 posted on 07/11/2005 4:23:47 PM PDT by GSlob
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To: Crackingham
Experts say it's a mistake to label young sex offenders as 'deviants'

I couldn't agree more.

It is TERRIBLE to stigmatize them, making it impossible for them to ever 'fit in' again.

This is right up there with putting panties on suspected terrorists, without the excuse of 'trying to extract potentially life saving information'.

It is much more humane and sane to simply off the little bugger(er)s immediately.

13 posted on 07/11/2005 4:51:17 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (The world needs more work horses, and fewer Jackasses!)
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To: GSlob
So, one could still use "pervs" and "turps".

Oh, that sounds great, as long as you use the 'turps' on the 'pervs' AFTER using the sandpaper....

14 posted on 07/11/2005 4:55:14 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (The world needs more work horses, and fewer Jackasses!)
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To: little jeremiah
But this society has such a mixed attitude toward sexual behavior. We display it everywhere. We glamorize it. At the same time there are public displays of outrage over sexual activity."

No, "we" don't display it everywhere - they do.
15 posted on 07/11/2005 7:57:51 PM PDT by CO Gal (Liberals should be seen, but not heard..)
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To: CO Gal

I guess the writer of the article is identifying with the no holds barred hedonistic culture which idolizes pimps, sluts and perverts, and sneers at chastity and faithful monogamy.


16 posted on 07/11/2005 8:13:25 PM PDT by little jeremiah (A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, are incompatible with freedom. P. Henry)
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To: little jeremiah

You may be right. I'm glad I don't go to the same parties he goes to.


17 posted on 07/11/2005 8:57:20 PM PDT by CO Gal (Liberals should be seen, but not heard..)
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