How Can Society Stop Sexual Predators
Author: Kadence Buchanan

Perhaps society holds the lowest regard of all for sex
predators, those evil men who prey on that which we hold
closest to our hearts as people and parents – our children.

The recent news about John Mark Karr, the former school teacher
who allegedly sexually molested and killed 10-year-old JonBenet
Ramsey, has been a jarring experience that has reminded us of
their ruthlessness and savage nature. Once again, we find
ourselves asking, how do we put an end to all this?

Social scientists say that one of the things that make it
difficult to stop sexual predators is the fact that their
anti-social behavior is mostly invisible to most, except,
sadly, to their victims. They are not the type of criminals
that are easy to spot or who act suspiciously and avoid coming
into contact with law enforcement officers or agencies. On the
contrary, many sexual predators have established themselves and
are familiar figures in the community or neighborhood. They make
their dark side known only when they strike. Oftentimes, they
are people whom their victims trust – uncles, neighbors,
teachers and the like.

Studies have shown that sex criminals have deep psychological
problems as well as physical ones. Social scientists have
concluded that these sex offenders are the least likely to
reform among all types of criminals. They should be held up to
different judicial and legal standards as other criminals
considering the high rate of recurrence. In fact, the justice
system in some areas already has a different way of dealing
with sex offenders.

In California, for example, courts penalize convicted sex
criminals with a "civil commitment" in addition to the original
sentence that has been handed down in their case. This civil
commitment involves incarceration for another two years in a
locked-down facility. This is so in recognition of the fact
that sex offenders are more likely to re-offend than other
criminals and are probably not ready to return to society yet.

The California law that provides for this civil commitment will
be brought up before California voters in November, with the key
issue being whether these civil commitments should be extended
indefinitely for certain criminals that psychological experts
consider as continuing threats to society.

Today in California, convicted sexual offenders face up to a
two-year "civil commitment" to a locked-down facility in
addition to whatever prison sentence they receive. This is
because it is considered likely they may re-offend and are not
ready to be returned to society.

The rest of the country will likely keep its eyes trained on
California to see how effective their approach to sex offenders
will be and if it is worthy of emulation.


About The Author: Kadence Buchanan writes articles for
http://forsocietiessake.com/ - In addition, Kadence also writes
articles for http://worldofartandleisure.com/ and
http://foracloserfamily.com/