What can be done to change child abusers?

Question

Prisons are already overcrowded but what can be done to change a child abuser's attitude and choices?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, not much can be done. The problem with child abusers is that they have an anger and psychosocial problem, and even if they complete anger management and therapy, children are still unpredictable and unassuming, and the abuser goes back to the same state of mind as before.

If you're referring to abusive parents, the main problem is that even though they recognize their behaviour as angry and abusive, a child is still a child, and will have tantrums and fits to which the abuser sees as an excuse to hit the child. With adults it is different, they are more predicatable (sometimes) in their behaviour with other adults. Children are not so.

With sexual abuse, it's ingrained in the abuser's head. That is why many are forced to have no contact with children out of prison, but as soon as they do have contact, something horrible happens. The behaviour cannot be changed. Many sexual predators also have a different mindset, and feel that the child is coming on to them, even if the child only looks at them or acts nice towards them on one occasion.

The only solutions right now are complete isolation from children for child abusers (with the children in safe custody with others), and for repeat offenders, we may need to consider chemical castration for them or permanent house arrest. There is no easy answer, because we have no tools to change their psyche.

Answer 2

There is little that can be done short of keeping them away from children. The attitudes and choices are very difficult and, in many cases, impossible to change.

Answer 3

At this second, one more person in the world is wondering that.

And of course, probably the only way is prison or a fine, or for them to actually experience what the victim went through; but this would be injustice.

Answer 4

I'm all for castration.

If the law is stupid enough to put them back on the streets, the least we can do is give ourselves some peace of mind.

I don't beleive child abusers can EVER be rehabilitated completely.

Answer 5

Castration.

Answer 6

I think the best way is to teach our children to recognize such characters and learn to protect themselves; as protection and prevention is always better than when it's too late.

Answer 7

hang, shot, electric chair, blow up etc.