Another strike towards sanity

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Yes. They are sick. But they should be treated as sick people, not murderers.

[Strike For The South]

I disagree these people are S-C-U-M and on there first onfense should be castrated. There second life.

[Reenk Roink]

Beatdowns followed by educational videos are the way to go...

EDIT: Just read the stroy...severe beatdowns...

[master of the puppets]

for defiling an innocent youth they have or would have, they should never be forgiven, they should be extracted from society and branded so everyone can know just what kind of monster they are.

[JAG]

Yes. They are sick. But they should be treated as sick people, not murderers.

Well said. Every society is judged by how it looks after those most vulnerable and sick and in pedophilia cases there are two people who are vulnerable, the poor child victim and the pedophile. Just because someone has done an unthinkable crime, it doesn't mean they are not humans with rights, people who can be helped and not in need of help. It is our duty to rehabilitate these people not only for their own good, the child they molested, the future children they might molest but also for society as a whole. If we rehabilitate pedophiles and other criminals, it is society as a whole which directly benefits most.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Well said. Every society is judged by how it looks after those most vulnerable and sick and in pedophilia cases there are two people who are vulnerable, the poor child victim and the pedophile. Just because someone has done an unthinkable crime, it doesn't mean they are not humans with rights, people who can be helped and not in need of help. It is our duty to rehabilitate these people not only for their own good, the child they molested, the future children they might molest but also for society as a whole. If we rehabilitate pedophiles and other criminals, it is society as a whole which directly benefits most.

Philosophically, I have some sympathy for your view. One of the things that is forgotten about paedophiles is that many of them are victims of previous abuse in their own childhoods, and end up perpetuating abuse.

However, it is also true that paedophilia is notoriously difficult to treat effectively. Paedophiles are extremely wily, denying to themselves the magnitude of their crime. They lie very effectively, to themselves and to assessors. Repeat offending is very high.

Rehabilitation therefore, is an extremely expensive and fairly risky business. An essential part of rehabilitation is recognition of the crime and acceptance within society of the criminal. Very few people are willing to accept paedophiles into their community in a forgiving manner that might give them a chance to rehabilitate, which leads to hiding and increased risk of re-offending. Given the vulnerability of children to this crime (most abuse is never reported) I think society is unwilling to shoulder the risk and cost - this does not make it a harsh community, but a rational one.

My own view is based on this cost/benefit analysis. I don't believe in the death penalty (prone to irreversible errors, populism and frankly way too easy a punishment) but would sentence almost all who exhibit this level of paedophilia to life imprisonment with extremely hard labour, without possibility of parole. Unless society wants to spend the time and money truly rehabilitating, it should never let them out.

[UglyandHasty]

Paedophilia cant be treated. Those sick bastridge are a threat to our children, i cant think of any civilized way to treat them. Instead of thinking of ways to rehabilited those garbage, we should think of ways to protect and treated the underaged victim. Not the predators. They should pay in blood and sweat. They abused childs that still wore diapers !

What's good about this case, is the level of cooperation between different police corp of different countries. I hope the hunt for these psycho is open for good !

[Kralizec]

Excellent post, Haruchai.

I stress the importance of looking at pedophiles on a case-by-case basis. Some of them might be helpless and mentally handicapped who can be rehabilitated, depending on how bad their crimes were and how many. Plus, a 16 year old getting it on with a 15 year old is technicly pedophilia, too.

In the case of serial rapists or members of organised networks, lock them away and throw away the key. People like those mentioned in the article should be kept outside the sunlight forever even if only for the safety of our children.

[mystic brew]

i would point out that to paaedophiles, prison is anything but a joke. they are the lowest of the low to a normal con, and certainly in the UK, they are generally category A prisoners, mainly for their own protection. The article referenced below

That said, i saw a deeply compelling/disturbing series on BBC2 a while ago, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2027864.stm. i actually couldn't watch this sitting down...

Towards the end there was an interview with a german paedophile who turned himself in and volounteered to chemical castration, and was living a normal life, as far as could be told.

But this guy wanted to reform, and was appalled by his actions. whether this treatment can be applied to others is a different issue.

just for clarity, here is the law as it stands in the UK.

The Law:

The legal age for young people to consent to have sex is 16. This applies to heterosexual and homosexual sex.

* Although it is technically illegal for two fifteen year olds to engage in sexual activity, the Home Office has stated “the law is not intended to prosecute mutually agreed teenage sexual activity between two young people of a similar age, unless it involves abuse or exploitation.”
* And young people still have the right to confidential advice on contraception, pregnancy and abortion even if they are under 16.

The government recently reformed and amended the law relating to child sexual abuse in the Sexual Offences Act of 2003. The offences are now split according to age.
Under 13s

All penetrative sex (including penetration of the mouth) of a child aged 12 or younger is classified as rape and carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. A child this old is considered to be incapable of legally giving consent.

* Other offences include assault by penetration (with an object or part of the body), sexual assault (any kind of sexual touching), and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity (this could include making a child strip, or promising them rewards for sexual behaviour).
* Assault by penetration has a maximum penalty of life in prison; sexual assault and causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity both have maximum penalties of 14 years in prison.

13-15 Year Olds

The following are some examples of the offences where the offender is aged 18 or over (but where the sexual activity takes place between someone below the age of 18 and someone under 16, the offences are similar but carry lower sentences).

Sexual activity with a child

* This law covers all intercourse, other penetration or sexual touching of a child and carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

Causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

* This covers causing or persuading a child to engage in any sexual activity, including sexual acts with someone else, or making a child strip or masturbate. Again, the maximum sentence is 14 years in prison.

Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child

* Under this law, it is an offence to intentionally engage in sexual activity when you know that you can be seen by a child, or you believe or intend that they can see you, and where you do this in order to get sexual gratification from the fact that they may be watching you.

Causing a child to watch a sexual act

* This makes it an offence to intentionally cause a child to watch someone else taking part in sexual activity for the purpose of your own sexual gratification.

Meeting a child following sexual grooming

* Under this new law, if you are over 18 and have communicated with a child under 16 at least twice (including communication by phone or internet) it is an offence to meet them, or travel to meet them, anywhere in the world with the intention of committing one of the offences above.

Arranging or facilitating a child sex offence

* This makes it an offence to knowingly arrange or carry out an action in any part of the world which will lead to one of the offences above being committed.

16 and 17 Year Olds

Since most sexual abuse of children takes place in the home, the law now makes it an offence for any child under 18 to engage in sexual activity with a ‘family member’.

* Family member now includes foster family, step family and, in some instances, lodgers.

Also, it is an offence for a person working in a position of trust (e.g. a teacher, Connexions Advisor, nurse or carer) to engage in sexual activity with any child under 18. In other cases that age limit would be 16.

[LeftEyeNine]

No doubt these are sick bastards. But I think if bashing, killing, torturing and other reactions are what you think they deserve then so do the proper homosexuals. I think sexual perversion (no matter which degree it is) is something from the birth and and through your unexplored corners of brain. Can you decide what looks or feels attractive to you? No. Of course this does not mean these criminals are not threatening the peace of a society. But I wanted to point out that in terms of "sex", one can not be abused above some degree. It's not what you choose. It's widely about the way you are from the birth and the environment you were exposed after it.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

No doubt these are sick bastards. But I think if bashing, killing, torturing and other reactions are what you think they deserve then so do the proper homosexuals. I think sexual perversion (no matter which degree it is) is something from the birth and and through your unexplored corners of brain. Can you decide what looks or feels attractive to you? No. Of course this does not mean these criminals are not threatening the peace of a society. But I wanted to point out that in terms of "sex", one can not be abused above some degree. It's not what you choose. It's widely about the way you are from the birth and the environment you were exposed after it.

Agreed.

[mystic brew]

No doubt these are sick bastards. But I think if bashing, killing, torturing and other reactions are what you think they deserve then so do the proper homosexuals.

I agree with some of what you say, but can we please be very clear that homosexuality and paedophilia are two ENTIRELY different things?

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Sick people who won't ever get better and whose crimes already commited against society far outweigh any good we might be able to make of them, and certainly outweigh any justification for paying for their rehabilitation.

That said, they aren't sick enough to get away with this crap. They knew what they were doing is wrong--rapists and molesters generally do. That's the dividing line. They aren't hapless invalids doing the only thing they can, they're criminal scum.

String 'em up.

I agree, they are scum, but they're still sick. They should deffinetly be locked up to keep the communities safe. I don't think you fully understood my comment, but it's hard to, on forums.