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Ok so they let this guy out of jail. He had assaulted three people and they let him out three years early. He apparently completed a "sexual offender rehabilitation program" Well in the course of three hours saturday night he kidnapped and assaulted two teenage girl from the school I transferred out of two years ago. So I guess my question is do you feel offenders can be rehabilitated? Do you trust the system that says they are healed after this "program". The psychology part of me wants to say they can be rehabilitated but the realist survivor in me feels they can't. I think that my first attacker was so young that it was ingrained in him from a very early age. I don't know. I want other people's opinions.

Kellie

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NO!!!!

Ok so from a psychological point of view, i believe with the right treatment and medicaltion, it can be supressed, but i dont hitnk it can ever be cured

once a rapist always a rapist

like they say, a loepard can't change its spots

sorry jsut my opinion

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I personally don't think that they can be rehabilitated. Just my opinion. It's prolly my pessimistic nature saying that because I would love to believe that it is possible.

Jase

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Kellie:

What a ?!  Like you, I'd like to believe rehabilitation is possible.  The idealist in me wants to think that.  The realist in me says it's just not possible.  Being raped by a cop really skewed my view on this issue, so I may not be the most "objective" person.  ####, I guess none of us here are.

If you asked me what I want, I'd say to do what we can to rehabilitate these bastards so when they come out the world is a safer place.  I think, however; @ this point that issue is irrelevant.  I can only hope that we can all work together to educate society about the true tragedy that rape is.  That we can work together to do what we can for survivors.  Helping them heal.  Actively seeking legislation to put these bastards away for the life sentence that WE serve!  Sorry, I'm actually just getting pissed off thinking about this!  

Thanks for making me think Kellie.  This angry feeling feels good!

Jackie

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Kellie~

   This is a topic that's always "interesting" for me being that I am both a psych major and a rape/sexual assault survivior. Like you, I struggle between wanting to believe my education and training will eventually rehabilitate a sick individual and wanting to do what I think they deserve.....throwing them in jail forever, castrating them, etc etc....I think you all understand wishes to change the legal system.

I don't believe it's possible right now. I have (a little tiny bit) of hope for the future. I think awareness education is much more important as a large percentage of rapes are acquaintance related, and by seemingly "normal" rapists, as in not sadistic, psychotic sociopaths--though they are frighteningly out there.

I beleive that until rehab proves successful, counseling and empowering survivors and educating the public is #1, and jail time preferred over these bastards getting out b/c they've completed a bullshit program that says they're "cured".

Oh, now you've got me all worked up! :)

Good topic, though.

Take care.                            Hugz, Emili

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Wow. Good question. Like everyone else I like to believe in the good of all people. I like to think it's possible to take someone capable of creating so much anguish and make that person a more empathetic human being. But the fact that the recidivism rates are so high for sexual offenders...well, it makes me think it's really not possible. You hear way too much about people reoffending...

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i think answering this question in terms of "the system" is impossible.  i'm sure that somewhere out there there is a sex offender who, through jail time and therapy, has found that they were wrong and really want to live a normal life and not hurt anyone else.  but there are also those sex offenders who can't wait to get out and do it again.  it's all individual, and probably difficult to impossible to tell who is going to be good and who is going to be bad.  i'd hate for any person who truely feels sorry for what they have done to have to sit in jail for the rest of their life instead of moving on as a normal person.  i think sertain people deserve a second chance.  there are some pretty full proof ways to moniter reformed sex offenders.  

i don't really have a strong opinion either way.  except to say that all sex offenders who go free should have to have continued counselling, and monitoring 24 hours a day.  they should never be out of someones sight.

h

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I think this brings up the bigger question....

Nature or nuture?

or do we even want to go there?  That to me is the root of this question.  If the cause of the evil is nurture...then yes with effective (not once a month rehab) treatment...maybe? (psych major speaking...survivor is screaming at me now)

Any thoughts?

Inex

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Kellie,

You hit a raw nerve in me, by asking this...so pardon my rant if this gets out of hand.

This was something my therapist and I discussed/"hashed out" in many sessions of my therapy, and she has also "treated" offenders. Of which, quite honestly, made me very, VERY angry to be seeing her myself. I thought, "how could SHE?" However, I saw past that and realized it as an opportunity to find out the question we all have, as survivors. Can sex offenders be rehabilited???

I can't describe the heat inside that room as we talked/argued and agreed on certain things. Our conversations always led to our 'hands in the air', and a question of, "What do we do to stop them then?" and "How do we do it fairly/justly, and with compassion?" Need I tell you, that we had no conclusion. EVER.

I am DEAD-SET in the reality that sex offenders can NOT be rehabilitated, by any means. My therapist agrees, through her own educated opinion. She seemed to be 'admitting' to me, when I asked the question, that there has NEVER been proof of rehabilitation, in sex offenders. She seemed relunctant to divulge it to me, personally. I think she already suspected that I knew. That 'admittance' (for lack of a better word) was all the fuel I needed to believe it, once and for all. I had wondered for so long and I felt that, NOW, I could finally believe it (and not be as bad as them/ not as hate-filled/ not as cruel).

There is no answer to WHY rape and abuse happens, in the first place. If we had the sorce, we would have conquered by now. We all know it's not necessary for human survival...to rape and molest each other. We all know it is simply a 'theivery' for power (and that's it). But why do they want that power so badly that they would force a 'life sentence' (cheers Jackie) on those of us who survive it? I don't believe we have an answer to that. AND, I strongly believe that NO excuse is adequate!

When thinking in terms of psychology, one might try to argue that sex abuse/rape is a vicious circle of damage. Meaning, "it happened to them, so they do it us...they don't know any better". Throughout my court case as a young child, I was often told that it was my responsibility to "break the chain". If I didn't end it, who would? At the time, it kept me focused...but I didn't believe it- not even as a child. Well here I am today, a survivor of severe sexual abuse/sexual harrassment/sexual deviance...and I have NEVER touched, or raped another child/person. NOR, would I even consider it a "good idea"...as sexual predators would! There is NO excuse, or reason, that these monsters prey on innocent people and children. They are animals, they are pigs and they are cowards. Period.

Like someone has already mentioned, with medication and so called, "programming" these offenders can be supressed...(but for how long?). Until they decide they can't control themselves anymore??? Until they decide that they hurt so bad (through their own past) that they HAVE to inflict it on someone else...They NEED to do it to feel better???

Well that's NOT good enough. It's not a risk we should be forcing on the general public...on each other! How it's gone on so long...I have no idea!

I KNOW, and I SEE...deep inside my aching little girl, that these sex offenders are destructive, immoral, in-human...from every direction, from every angle and through every tear I shed, as a result...every single day I breathe.

My answer:

#### NO! There is NO such thing as a "rehabilitated sex offender". The phrase itself has me rolling my eyes.

T.

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The sad fact is I don't think they can. A little girl in my city was kidnapped from her front yard, raped and murdered by a repeat sex offender who had been to jail & even went to a sex offender's class I believe. She was 4 yrs old, the same age as my little girl! I posted about this back in November because I was so shaken up about it. The guy who raped me when I was 15, he was 19 or 20 got arrested nearly 2 yrs ago for breaking into a girl's home and raping her while her baby slept in the same bed! I was totally sick at the thought that he did that again to someone else & that I should have called the cops back then. The fact that I was underage at that time would have helped but I was too #### scared. But to your question, I don't really think most people can be rehab'd. I say most because there may be a small exception but I doubt even that. But then again I have been raped twice by 2 different ppl so I'm a little #### skeptical. :( I think anyone who rapes or molests a child/woman should be locked up & never let out. Why give them the chance to hurt someone else! Take care, Kim

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I've done research on this!

It very, very much depends on the individual in question.

My opinion is, It depends WHY the r*pist r*pes.

Are they mentally ill?

(Psychopaths or those with Antisocial Personality Disorder)

Definition of psychopathy is basically: the person is mentally incapable of feeling empathy for another. This makes it REAL easy to commit a crime without guilt.

Group therapy with other psychopaths is usually the most effective method of curing/rehabilitating.

HOWEVER Psychopaths are very rarely completely "cured".

If the r*pist is not ill, he IS capable of guilt & can be stopped in that way.

However, he's quite likely to be a complete shithead.

There has to be a way, though! There has to be some kind of method.

(sorry for my babble; It's just I plan to take a Uni course in a couple of years and specialize in this stuff.)

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**T**

Ya know what im gonna put my angery 2 cents in, i do NOT believe anyone can be rehablitated. Once a sick ass always a sick ass, it doesnt change nothing. If your a sick bastard who thinks sick ass thoughts you always do. I dont care how much rehab one gets and how much jail or prison time, they say they are all better but give me a break they are not.As the old saying goes "give them an inch and they will take a mile." Some may smother that feeling but that doesnt hide what they once were, never EVER does it.

One does wrong period in my book, maybe my book is outdated. But i have seen 2 by myself, 2 different guys and by the looks of them when i get the lovely time of seeing them i see no apologies i see nothing but hate.

I see no rehab, this isnt drug rehab or alcohol this is rape and abuse, this sint something yiou just plain crave to take your mind off things. This is something that is sick and so misused by just about every f*cking human being.

You have the abusers and you have the ignorant, where do you turn but to ppl that can relate to you and have been there. From the members here and every other board and every other place that just does not have a computer, no i do NOT see rehabilitated. I see disgusting f*cking bastards.

Sorry for my anger...

Donna =)

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I think that I'm undecided whether or not any abusers can be rehabilitated.  I'm going to agree with CrystalUnicorn that I think it all depends on why an abuser does what he or she does.

I don't think my rapist will ever be rehabilitated, but evidently someone does.  Or else he'd be in jail, right?

(((hugs)))

Laney

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This topic is hugely interesting to me.

It really annoys that me that no large-scale study has been done on this topic. It's another way of minimizing us, and our experiences. To my mind rape/abuse/sexual assault is the most serious crime that can be committed, bar murder. It seems staggering that we still know so little about it, and society still refuses to acknowledge what a widespread problem it is. I'm tired of hearing people in the media claim that the 1 in 4 statistic is inaccurate on the basis that it 'seems so high'. #### straight it's high. It's a sign that somehow society is failing to ensure standards of reasonable and civilised behaviour.

The pathetic sentences given to child abusers anger me beyond words. A persistent pedophile here who had kidnapped, raped, and assaulted numerous children was given a two year sentence the other day. TWO YEARS. You can get longer than that for persistent shoplifting. Another signal that the CRIMES we endured were of little consequence.

Grrrr

Aoife

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Trinity,

It is very interresting to me that you have the experience of seeing someone who has been on both sides of the fence. I have always wondered how anyone could do that--be on both sides, but as you stated, she has admitted that there really is no rehabilitation.  This in itself says a lot to me, especially coming from someone who has worked with both sides as your therapist has.  Most interesting indeed.  I wonder how many other people who work with offenders feel the same way.  You know, despite my education in psychology, one can't deny the facts.  The act of rape is a crime that is worse than all others in my books.  That being said...do we expect murderers to be 'cured'? not likely.  We tend to try and lock them up for as long as we can so they can't do it again--because we know they will.  Now if murder is a lesser crime then rape, why are the rapists roaming the streets? Why do we not lock them up and forget the whole notion of rehab?  Or is it because the crime of rape is primarily against women?  

Thoughts?

inex

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To everyone ((hugs))

I don't know about the rehibilitation process.  I took would like to believe that people can change, and all have good in them.  But having part of me taken away by someone else- kinda hinders those thoughts.  But then again everyone makes mistakes, and does things they regret, and being as some of those who've assulted me were my age, or younger, I wonder how they came to know anything about "sexual" acts.  In turn making me think they were abused themselves.  I know people who've changed their lives so completely, from being drug abusers, prositutes for money to buy drugs, numerous things, and have truly changed their lives.  I can't say for sure that ALL sex offenders could change, but Im sure some could...If they have the esteem, and they have to WANT to change in the first place.  Let us hope for the good of the world.

((gentle hugs))

Sapphire

 

Just an added thought... some people don't come to a realization that what they are doing is wrong until they find something- whether that be God, Love, etc just something that actually means something to them.  If an offender found "something" to put their life into, and then was like hit with lightening that "hey Im a totally sicko" and got the help- wouldn't that count for something?  Not to say that all of them would, nor that the judicial system is the most wonderful/perfect thing in the world.  I agree more should be done publically against sex offenders when they are caught.  More then just jail time, or fines. <shrug> I dunno maybe Im giving too much benefit of a doubt?

(Edited by SapphirezfuryRains at 2:13 pm on Jan. 8, 2002)

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Guest SK Redmond

Ok my two cents to go along with everyone elses.  I'm going to compare the sex offender here with and adict for the purpose of breaking the whole thing down in a way I can understand.  I myself am a recovering drug addict, and like most adicts I did not make the choice to get clean until I had hit bottom and the consequences of my using where very severe.  I knew if I kept using I was going to die.  There is not a day that goes by, where it doesn't cross my mind at least once to use.  Where I don't crave and miss my old habbits.  But the consequences of using keep me clean.  I don't want to die...or lose myself...I want to live.  Ok so what does this have to do with sex offenders.  I think they can only be "cured" in the since that addicts can be cured.  Once and addict alwasy and addict...it is a constant comitment and struggle to stay clean.  I would argue that the same holds true for sex offenders.  However, what are the consequences for their actions?  Are they steap enough that the action isn't worth it?  I think the statistics ansewer that with a resounding NO!  Most sex offenders will never go to jail, they won't lose their jobs, their families, friends, their lives will be miminally affected, so why stop?  Knowing what I was doing was illegal was not enough to get me to stop using.  That's why I'm all for capital punishement for repeat sexual offenders...predators.

Do I think sex offenders can be rehabillitated.  Not until the legal system and societ admit how wide spread and damaging sex crimes are.  Not until a rapist loses everything if they are caught, and not until more of them are caught and prosecuted.  Rape is treated like a villianless crime.  Society refuse to see the evil in them...just as they refuse to see the devisation in us.  The two really go hand in hand...don't you think?

-NiNi

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So if they are cured, do you think they can be allowed back in society? Or with repeat offenders should we consider them mentally unfit and send them to a mental hospital. (Which they are currently doing to some offenders presently)

Kellie

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((Kellie))

I don't think they should be allowed out jail or a hospital without some major restrictions.  Maybe even go as far as tatoo on their forehead with a big red "R" or something else that stands for offender.  But truly I think they should have to prove themselves over a period of years while in prision that they do have selfcontrol, and can live by restrictions.  Before it's even considered releasing them.  And if there is any potential problems, they are sent to the mental insitute for some severe treatment.  Or be like Judge Dred and just get rid of them on the street.  :)

Just my opinion

Sapphire

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WOW (((((hugs))))) to everyone

I'm so sorry if I offend anyone here, but I am currently training as a social worker and I intend to specialise in sex-offender rehabilitaion.

I'm realistic. My personal belief is that out of all the bastards out there maybe 3% will never do it again...

People ask me all the time, why would you want to? Rapists should be castrated or locked away or shot.

Unfortunatley for us none of those measures seem to either work or be acceptable in our society, so why not?

I know it looks like a hopeless cause, but hey, even if I manage to dissuade even one from ever doing it again in my lifetime then I'd consider it a career well worth having.

But do I think they can be cured as such? NO. The only hope I think we have is that their conscience and soul take over their perversion and maybe they will feel too guilty to ever do it again.

Luv,

Rach

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Trinity,

I have to agree with what seems to be the general consensus here, I really don't think they can be.  You can't make someone have a conscience.

Peace,

persephone

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I think I might be more vindictive than most, but for me, it doesn't matter whether someone can be "rehabilitated" or not. They committed a crime, and they should serve the sentence for that crime, regardless of how rehabilitated or remorseful they become.

-Lis

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I also feel that they should do the time without any of that good behavior shit. Give me a break...But what if one who deserves 40 yrs gets 2 mths from a 4 yr sentence for good behaviour? What is that? Good behaviour cause one smiled, went to bed when was told, pissed when one was told, folded clothes as told and gets out 3 yrs and 8 mths ahead of time. What the ####? Society is a joke and the criminal system is ass backwards.

Donna =)

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Guest Lil Tiger

((((Kellie))))

You really know how to hit the nail on the head huh....

Now I am quite biased esp with my recent interractions with a male rapist who tred to commit suicide and will be out in the public free in the next 6 months. Rehabilitation is quite a complex issue. To a degree as a nurse I do feel it is possible to rehabilitate esp when the person is experiencinga mental illnes that can be controlled by medicatiosn and behaviour modification. Hmmm I think some people are going to get quite annoyed at this statement but I also feel as a surivivor that there is a small maybe even larger amount or rapists who dont even know what they are doing is rape??? I wont delve too much on the subject cause I dotn want t minimise peoples pain / suffering but I do agrree this to an extent. I however also know there is the 'other' percentage that no matter hwo much behaviour modification, treatment or the like will EVER change the way they act or stop them from commiting these horrible crimes. I fel that some are just plain malicious, enjoy the intense experience they sem to sahre by violating a woman, man or child. No matter what the system is or what it stands for we have to at least try if we dont what hope is there for our children??? I feel though if we place too much emphasis on this that it will affect our healing..I konw my healing has been affected because my attacker was found not guily and even though i said i dont care about the outcome just the fact i stood up there makes a diff inside , deep inside you are really hurt for it means your peers did not believe you, the system, your system, our system had failed what can we do to change this??? We can educate the public on this and make a stand for our own right as human beings to be able to feel safe without having to wory baout what we are wearing who we are with or what w eare doing with them....for there is NO excuse for rape...none whats so ever or any form of abuse. I feel for our own morality though e have to at least try if we give up hope on this...what is left????

just my thoughts

((((((((gentel safe hugs))))))))))

chloe

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