Pedophiles, how should they be treated?

Question

I want you to answer this with your head, instead of your heart or emotion!! After all, most pedophiles are victims of sexual abuse at a young age themselves. Which is why it doesn't sound right for the same law that failed to defend them, wanting to punish them about something they were FORCED to become. So.. what do you think is a fair and just treatment for pedophiles?

for the record, I'm not being more sympethatic to pedophiles rather than to innocent lil kids. I'm just trying to look at it from a sane and objective angle.

Answer 1

They may have been abused themselves, but there is such a thing as taking responsibility for one's actions. My girlfriend went through years of abuse as a child and though she has lingering mental problems, she hasn't been FORCED to become like her abuser. That's a cop-out. It's insane not to punish them because they were abused as children. I think first time offenders should be jailed but if they do it again, chemical castration works for me.

Answer 2

I'm not sure that your notion that pedophiles are commonly victoms themselves is backed up by facts, but I rather doubt that changes my answer.

There is very little to support the notion that pedophiles can be reformed. They have tried 12 step type programs, but even with say AA, most people "fall off the wagon" at some point. When a pedophile falls of the wagon, more children get harmed. The risk is just too great.

I think they should be exiled. Take an island, and send convicted sex offenders there. No kids allowed on the island.

Maybe it would not be workable, but I think it is worth considering. No matter if it is not their fault that they are the way that they are, the fact is, we cannot allow them to harm children.

Answer 3

My understanding is that pedophiles are rarely cured. If released into society they are likely to re offend. I would like an expert to confirm that but if it is true then I think we have little choice but to give a convicted pedophile a very long custodial sentence.
This goes against the grain as in general I think that people should be given second chances after being punished for a crime but in this case I would not want to risk children.

Answer 4

I'm afraid to break this to you, but no one is FORCED to become a pedophile, even if they were sexually abused as children. My niece was molested by her step-father five years ago and she has never been the same. Despite weekly therapy sesion she continues to engage in cutting herself. Her innocence was taken away from her by a person she trusted. He got a year of house arrest, and had to register as a sex offender. She lost her adolesence. It is imperative that parents be able to find out where these predators live so they can protect their children. It seems to me that you are more concerned about the predators rights than those of innocent children. That my friend is truly sad.

Answer 5

Since it is said that a high number of victims go on to become predators themselves, by that logic maybe the victims should be instantly put on sexual predator lists as well before they have a chance to grow up and harm a child.
Honestly i dont believe they should, but some of the screwed up laws and ways of thinking i wouldnt be suprised if that happens one day.

Answer 6

Your attempting to rationalize criminal behavior. There is no justification for committing a crime and making excuses for it is dangerous. Going through a horrible experience dose not give one a license to break the law. We are all free to make our own choices and we all must live with the consequences.
If one of a child's parents is murdered do we then say it's okay for that child to kill when he is older?
Pedophiles are treated harshly by our justice system because they prey on the most vulnerable in our society. I don't think current penalties are harsh enough.

Answer 7

They should be separated from society forever because there is little chance of them being getting better and they tend to re-offend. It may not sound right that the law that failed to protect them now punishes them, but more sexual abusers are prosecuted and convicted than before.

Answer 8

Ok head it is

I believe that sexual attraction is hard wired into the brain

Homosexual heterosexual big breasts etc

Pedophile-same thing -

So then if that is the case - drop the pretense to help them put them somewhere that they can't do any harm to people or society and forget about it -

I do not believe that I can be counseled out of being attracted to women that homosexuals can be counseled out of being attracted to the same gender or that pedophiles can be counseled out of wanting children

Difference being I am willing to live with homosexual men and women in my community as long as they abide by the normals criminal codes that apply to everybody

Pedophiles --- not so much

Answer 9

This is a real difficult one. If it was a first offence and it was of a minor nature I think a custodial sentance and being put on the sex register for life is adequate. If on the other hand like Gary Glitter or the like I think they should be castrated so as to make them harmless to society.
I think we all agree that children are our future, what would they think of us if we failed our basic duty to make sure that they at least remain safe from the animals that would prey on them.

Answer 10

A bullet to the back of the head. Then, like in China, send his parents a bill for $1.00 for the bullet.

Call me a heartless conservative, but a pedophile's actions are unforgivable and inexcusable. I have no interest in rehabilitating them. They have destroyed lives and deserve no less in return.