Pie Palace

A while back, I posted about Family Watchdog, a US service that makes the addresses of sex offenders available online. Along with selling some snazzy bling, they also sell a hefty dose of fear, and the assertion that they are somehow doing something to prevent sexual abuse. Bull.

Tina responded:

…you’re bitching about the possibility of a few adults being wrongfuly harassed? do you have any clue what it feels like to be molested? Obviously not, it affects you’re whole life, and these kids are never the same. Even if [Family Watchdog is as] hungry for money as you say, the amount of children that can be possibly kept away from these cretins is worth any amount. Our children are targets for these evil people and unless you are doing something to stop this yourself you really shouldn’t be writing this crap

I’m not talking about “just” harassment. I’m talking about innocent people being murdered. I’m talking about vigilanties murdering people who have already done their time.

Instead of appealing to emotions, let’s look at reality:

• According to USA Today,
  • The rate of reported cases of child molesting in the US has dropped 39% in the last 10 years. This isn’t due to the government putting vigilante wish-lists online, it’s due to longer periods of incarceration, improved therapy for offenders, heightened public concern, and an economic improvement in the 1990s.
    
  • The rate of recidivism among child molestors is low: 17% for those who are not receiving treatment, and between 7-10% for those who have. This number is very different from the received wisdom I’ve heard, which put it much higher. If anyone wants to do a little more digging, I’ll post the results. -e
• Most child sex assults are an act performed by strangers, they’re performed by family members, family friends, and “professionals” (such as teachers, doctors, and day-care providers). The numbers on this vary. According to USA today: 90% of all assaults are from someone known. According to the US Dep’t of Health and Human Services, 79% of assults are performed by someone known to the family.
  
• Public listings of offenders create a false sense of security, as they don’t include previous offenders who haven’t been caught, and they don’t include offenders who haven’t yet committed a crime.

The “correct” approach to this problem is better legislation. If someone is likely to reoffend, they shouldn’t be out in public. When offenders do make it out into society, they should be provided with the support groups (and drugs, if need be) necessary to lower their chance of reoffense. Laws that prevent previous offenders from getting anywhere near schools, and other places where kids spend time may also work.

But we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that most of these offenders are not strangers. If a child is going to be molested, it will probably be by someone they know and trust. It probably won’t be a stranger.