"In lots of instances, such as with pedophiles, child molesters, or serial rapists, we can be reasonably certain that they will commit additional
Studies show that less than 1 in 5 sexual offenders will again offend sexually. This compares to a rate of 50-80 percent for male prisoners re-offending for other crimes. Also, most of the sexual offenders re-offend only once.
The problem is that sexual offenses (especialy in the multiple repeat offenders) are often very horrid and brutal, and they offend the public sense in the deepest way by the manner in which they exploit innocence and helplessness. As well, they galvanize the public mind to a confusion of type over number.
It is not surprising that people place a high value on their children. It is as it should be; but it does tend to distort the public perception of recidivism rates.
About 3% of the population are in prison for one thing or another. Locking innocents up because they might do something wrong (or right) in their life is the path of totalitarianism and fascism, where your right to life and liberty is not a right...but merely the whim of the men going door to door with machetes and guns.
However, I think people who DO offend, especially with violence and brutality, ought to be treated as if they have violated, in the most loathsome and contemptible manner, the most fundamental values of a society which values freedom...for they have. And the consequence of a reoffence ought to reflect the fact that freedom and protection of people is a cherished value fundamental to human existence, and not merely something to pay lip service to.
I do not think the "justice" system remembers that human rights and freedoms are the reason d'etre of their work in the public service. There are too many libraries of case history, and too many speeches between the offender and his/her disposition. They have lost the meaning and the reason behind the game. They have forgotten, and so have many others... |
