SHOULD LAWMAKERS INTRODUCE HARSHER SANCTIONS ON CONVICTED SEX OFFENDERS?

Should Lawmakers Introduce Harsher Sanctions for Convicted Sex Offenders?

Ronald Edwards

Throughout our relatively brief American history sexual offenses have been considered as some of the worst crimes committed against people, specifically those against children. Sex offenses are considered to be “perpetrated crimes of prey” where the weak are subjected to the lowest forms of victimization and degradation ever reported. Society demands retribution for criminals’ misconduct and demands the right to assign blame and punishment to the criminal. This is fundamental in a rule of law society. Criminal sanctions for sex crimes have always been pertinent to the deterrence. The political and social debates on the effectiveness of the deterrence against sexual offenses continue to rage on. There exists strong evidence that the deterrence approach for sexual offenses has not sent a clear message to lawbreakers that society will not tolerate such criminal activity. Sexual predators have no equal when it comes to public outrage.

The social response to sexual offenses will devastate a community, to the point of public demonstrations and retaliations. Crowds protest outside pedophiles’ residences and demand that they relocate to other areas and cities in the interest of community and child safety. Reports of vandalism and other acts of intimidation to get sex offenders to relocate are common.

Sex offenses continue to remain in the forefront of social problems. Many states are dispensing harsher penalties on sex offenders to establish more effective deterrence in an effort to stop such crimes. Many state legislatures have taken extraordinary measures to eradicate sex crimes from their respective communities to include lifetime registrations, chemical and surgical castration, and the death penalty for repeat offenders. There is strong evidence that sex offenses still continue to be a prominent issue in practically every city and community across this country for the foreseeable future. Politicians are becoming more frustrated with past and current penalties that appear to not be sufficient to deal with the savvy techniques of the modern day computer sex predators that lurk on the World Wide Web. Correctional agencies and prisons throughout this country are devising innovative sex offender programs that establish prison “therapeutic communities” that house sex offenders together in common cell blocks and dormitories while incorporating specialized counseling and group therapy sessions, all under strict supervision of attentive corrections officers. Many of these prison programs are mandatory and require an inmate’s successful participation and graduation to secure any possibility of consideration for release from prison. Most state prisons have long waiting lists for sex offenders to gain admission into these therapy programs, some waiting lists may extend beyond two years. Despite our best efforts the programs and available sanctions are not curtailing this social epidemic. It is time to increase the penalties and legal sanctions for sex offenders. Despite the noble efforts of our government leaders to “get tough” on criminal penalties, strong evidence reflects our best efforts are not sufficient.

Sex offenders are both young old and represent all ethnic groups. Evidence supports that short prison stints are not a viable deterrent. Support for the harshest penalties to include Internet notifications of sex offenders moving into a community, life time registrations, life sentences without parole, surgical and chemical castration and the death penalty are all receiving conservative support. Liberals still continue to view sex offenders as social misfits that can be rehabilitated with intensive programming. Many sex offenders are failing to register with their Sheriff or police departments after their release from prisons.

In Ohio, State Representative Tim Shaffer (R) has introduced a bill for stiffer penalties for those sex offenders who fail to properly register by assigning the same penalty as the original sex offense the person was convicted of. For the most dangerous sex offenders, it would be a first-degree felony with 10 years in prison. According to this proposed legislation, sex offenders who fail to properly register and have previously been convicted of failing to register would receive mandatory jail time for up to three years. Ohio State Auditor Betty Montgomery initially proposed this bill when she was Ohio’s Attorney General.

In many Ohio communities, sex offenders are restricted as to where they can live. Local community leaders in Pickerington, Ohio are trying to expand the scope of prohibited areas, limit the number of locations where sex offenders can live, and to keep them away from more than just schools. Legislation was introduced in September 2006, which would prohibit sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, public swimming pools, day-care operations, city-owned or operated public parks, and playgrounds.

We must deal more harshly with the repeat sex offenders with the growing sophistication of the pedophiles on the Internet luring young children to remote areas across state lines for sexual rendezvous. It will be essential to deter these high-tech predators. The Internet has spawned an entirely new category of sexual predators. The Internet is providing the most graphic sexual depictions of children for on-line predators. It is estimated that they have stimulated a multi-billion dollar child pornography market in this country alone. Pedophiles are quickly learning how to penetrate the innocence of the on-line craze at “MySpace.Com”, one of the largest Internet sites geared for children and young adults to meet and exchange personal and private information. Authorities are perplexed at the sheer volume of people who are embroiled in this fast growing child sex Internet industry. This market has exposed the appalling level of corruption of children of all ages. The Internet market for child pornography is also fueled by the despicable commerce generated from third world countries. Children are used in pornographic photographs depicting sex acts with adults, pets, with other children. Unfortunately, the market is there, reportedly lucrative, and despicable.

It is evident, sexual offenses perpetrated on children rate among the most appalling and morally reprehensible crimes committed in our society. The current sentences, sanctions, and judicial guidelines are not effective in deterring pedophiles. It may be the prime time to introduce more permanent and harsher sentences that would guarantee society’s protection against such crimes. Adult sex offenders who gain the trust of society by working in the highest levels of government, scouting, and the clergy have traumatized child victims for life. The media typically reports sexual abuse on a daily basis in every community across this country. It is necessary that the criminal justice system, and particularly the judiciary, work to create bold new strategies to keep repeat offenders off our streets and out of our communities. Our children must be better protected if we expect them to go to schools, churches, social events and learn to be responsible and productive.

Public safety will soon put more emphasis on keeping our children safer in all public areas. Cameras and electronic surveillance equipment will play a pivotal role in where and how we interact with children in public places in the near future. We now have ample evidence to support the additional use of electronic cameras in all public properties and there is growing support for private entities to see and understand the positive features of surveillance devices that will protect the interest of the consumer and patrons. These devices have been successful in solving all sorts of criminal misconduct from abductions on city streets to homicides, all without the knowledge of the perpetrator. Time is of the essence. Lawmakers, communities, cities, and metropolitan areas must devise harsher penalties and sanctions to curtail this growing epidemic of sexual deviancy. Pedophiles are psychologically impairing our children, spawning child pornography and sexual assaults on our youth. We must do what is necessary to keep these sex predators off our streets and out of our communities. Perhaps life without parole may be our only guarantee of safety.


References:

Ohio Revised Code
Columbus Dispatch, Metro State section D, Jim Woods, October 1, 2006
Bangor Dailey News, August 1, 2006
The Eagle - Gazette Staff, Carl Burnett Jr. September 16, 2006