The Sunday, August 21st New York Times' Opinion Section includes an article tiled "Sex Offenders: The Last Pariahs" in which the author exposes views and relates information about sex offenders and about the efficacy of our laws that address sexual crimes. After reading the article (see link below) comment on the blog.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/opinion/sunday/sex-offenders-the-last-pariahs.html?_r=1&ref=opinion
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
The article is centered around the debate regarding the already-implemented laws against sexual offenders and the ones in question. Although I ardently agree with the fact that sexual abuse (regardless of age) is, like the author himself says, "uniquely horrific," I believe that the considerations for dealing with the reprehensible deeds are just as horrific. One of the main concerns that leaves the public on tenterhooks, as well as anti-abuse advocates, is the enigmatic outcome of what will become of the lives of those criminals who are released after serving their time. The fear of recidivism leaves state governments with an idea to start an initiative that involves "monitoring the offender for life with electronic bracelets." What are prisons for? Besides, when states already enforce laws that prohibit offenders from residing in areas near schools or parks, what's the use of splurging money on projects that are deemed ineffective. And to top it off, the crimes that offenders have gained notoriety from are actually quite rare according to the article.
ReplyDeleteIt's 2011, folks, and the occurences began dwindling before many of us were even born-- the 1980s. Many sadists and serial killers get released from prison each year, and although they must obey parole, many are still roaming grounds where denizens either have children or are children. If criminals of that caliber are granted that degree of leniency, then it would be unjust to deny the freedom of one who committed a sexually-related ignominy (they are both equally shameful crimes). I'm not advocating the widespread release of malingers from prison, nor am I in favor of the alternatives that state governments have regarding their disciplinary measures.
*malingers---> miscreants
ReplyDeletei would say laws even rude they are really extremists but they HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB, even when the author shows some analysis that says it has been decreasing since before laws.BUT
ReplyDeleteI would like to quote "... Two-thirds of the North Carolina registrants sampled in a 2007 study by Human Rights Watch had been convicted of the nonviolent crime of “indecent liberties with a minor,” which does not necessarily involve physical contact..." an example could be a drunk person peeing on street then just a parent and son/ daughter walking around see him/her, and it could turn in a long imprisonment time. i think they are right enforcing these laws but they are too tough.(i'm sorry if i was too illustrative and wounded someone)
One more time, as usual, laws in this country are becoming less effective and more expensive. I’m not saying we should veto this law against “sexual offenders,” but it is a fact that – as Roger N. Lancaster describe in his article – this law is going to the extreme. Why is the world made a better place by putting another human being in misery for the sole purpose of making them suffer? This accomplishes absolutely nothing except to add even more to the misery in the world.
ReplyDeleteAnother point to give special consideration is the one regarding expenses. All this special devices for electronic surveillance or this inadequate website used in Florida to have a record of all prisoners released from custody aren’t free. Folks, from where you think this money come from? But anyways, the unemployment is at 9.1% and the White House is having a “party” of parties about national debt. As Henry Louis Mencken stated “There is always an easy solution to every human problem—neat, plausible, and wrong."
Desmond Symonette
ReplyDeleteBy growing up in the inner city were we encounter many characters of all backgrounds, one thing i notice is the fact that they never learn from there punishment. which brings me to the article,i feel we are not being to harsh on these people because in reality even though they suffered the consequences;they are still prone to do the crime again...... Desmond Symonette
It might seem that the laws against sexual offender are too harsh, that is inhumane deprive a person from society the way these laws are doing with these criminals (after having served a sentence), that some rights of these people are being violated, that everyone has the right to have second/third chances, and etc. However, are we thinking about the people that were raped, battered? Those criminals knew what were they doing and the consequences of their horrific acts. They didn’t care about the person they were harassing, they didn’t think about the scar there were living on that individual, about the tremendous change that inhumane and ruthless act they were committing was going to make on those innocent lives. I doubt those criminals had mercy upon the victims. So, I tell myself why should we have mercy upon those criminals when they did not even take a second to reflect upon such atrocious crime? Thus, life is full of opportunities and whenever they are used for the wrong, consequences are to be faced and in life not everything is free, debts are to be paid sooner or later.
ReplyDeletewhat type of person has the odacity to sexually,mentally or physically harm a child. Sex offenders deserve life imprisonment. The kids are the future and keeping these sick people behind bars will prevent another child from being abused. I believe that if a sex offender has been release from jail most likely they might commit the same crime again but this time they harm more than one child.
ReplyDeleteBeing a mother of 3 kids, I believe that, ALL NO MATTER HOW SEVERE THE CRIME, sexual predators should be incarcerated for life!!!! Once a person has crossed that line and taken the innonce away from a child that person should either have the same thing done to them or locked up for life.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has the right to a "normal life" but if they do get that second chance I strongly believe that they should definitely be monitored and have the regulations they have. At the end of the day, what you value most from a child is their innocence and love, and once thats taken away that child has died!
In regards to referring it to our class and book, the article referrred to child offenders as slaves, but once they've crossed that line it doesn't matter what life they have to live. They should be monitored for life with out a doubt! I do not think for one second it is a immoral. What the sexual offendor did is immoral and inhuman.
The article about the sex offenders seems that talks about a debate considering that the law is already there for sex offenders. However I believe that sex abuse is something really awful, I also believe that the law is being really harsh with the sex offenders the way that them are treated. They deserve punishment, but why embarrass them in front of a society, another thing that I think is completely unfair is that a sex offender can’t live within a 2000 feet near a school or childcare facilities. Why the law needs to make a person been exile of a society. I know that the offenders deserve punishment, and four months in jail or doing community service for the rest of their lives, but exile them of a good society?. The law treats better robbers or drug dealers than sex offenders, when I believed that the sex offenders are better than robbers and drug dealers.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore I believe that the question of the article Are we too harsh on sex offenders? I believe yes we are a little bit too harsh. The way we exile the sex offenders of the society, they deserve punishment, but not that harsh. The sex offenders are person so they are someone. They deserve punishment, because they are abusing of someone and a child so they deserve jail time and community service, but I don’t believe they should be treated like cockroaches.
An innocence that is being slowly stripped away and the thoughts of an occurrence being constantly replayed is something someone should never have to bear. What type of person has the audacity to sexually, mentally and physically harm an innocent child? I strongly believe sex offenders deserve imprisonment for life because, the damage that is done to many children are irreversible, and rape being the most intimate of crimes, I agree should be dealt with server consequences. Children, especially of this generation are the future and keeping these mentally disturbed people behind bars will further prevent another child from being abused. I believe that if any sex offender is released from jail they are most likely to commit the same crime again, but next time hurting more than one victim. As a result, locking up one victim can save many.
ReplyDeleteI think that sex offenders has it way too easy rather than harsh. I stated this because most of them are living in areas were kids are more risk to be taken by these offenders. They have the liberty of being out in public. The government should take in consideration of buiding a townhouse for these offenders. While these sex offenders living in a area where its just them against the world, they can have a vivid picture of what harm they cause upon the kids to themselves.That way parents can feel a sense of peace and children can sleep better at night. They have a better advantages than a immigrant who is trying to seek a better life in the US.
ReplyDelete