Does The Punishment Fit The Crime?

My questions whether child molesters serve enough time for their crime.

Does the punishment fit the crime?

There is much debate whether sexual predators can be rehabilitated or if they are wired to always be sexual deviants. In the case of child molestation, there is ample research that shows these people can not be cured or fixed. Why then, when a person is charged and convicted of sexually abusing a child, are they being released from prisons or jail and with so little time served? Again, I ask, does the punishment fit the crime?

A former California Highway Patrol sergeant pleads guilty to three misdemeanor counts child molestation and child pornography. He admitted molesting a 16-year-old girl and committing a lewd act on a 12 year old girl. He received 300 days in jail and five years probation. He is also required to register as a sex offender for life. Does this seem fair?

A man is charged with five counts of lewd acts upon a child and another count of attempted lewd act upon a child. He plead guilty and was sentenced to three years in state prison (which was stayed by the judge). He was ordered to serve a year in county jail and placed on five years formal probation. He was ordered to register as a sex offender and obtain counseling for sex offenders. Is this a fair punishment considering the crime?

Two teachers, who were dating each other, had taught and tutored several students, ultimately luring the girls into participating in group-sex with them. The female teacher plead guilty to one count of oral copulation. She was placed on three years formal probation and was required to perform 240 hours of community service. She also had to register as a sex offender for life. Her boyfriend plead guilty to multiple counts of sexual intercourse and oral copulation with a minor. He was sentenced to 16 months in state prison with the requirement that he register as a sex offender for life upon his release. Sound fair?

In 1981, a man was convicted of raping a 3-year-old girl and sent to prison. When he was released in 1984, he returned to rape the same terrified girl who was then 6 years old. He was angry that she had identified him as the rapist. He later told cops he wanted revenge. He was charged again in 1994 with rape and assault on four children who he allegedly tied to a bed and forced to perform sex acts. A judge later made a favorable ruling in this man's case and he walked out of the courtroom a free man. This man has committed acts of such a heinous nature, I wonder; should he ever be released? Are our children safe?

In 1995, a child molestation case in Texas caused a national uproar when the suspect was due to be released from prison after serving a six-year sentence for the rape of a six year-old boy. He told the police that he got away with abusing over 240 children before getting caught for molesting a single child. He stated if he was to be released, he would do it again. This author is unsure if this man has been released from jail or not. He may be living right next door to you, would you know it?




Approximately 4,300 child molesters were released from prisons in 15 States in 1994. An estimated 3.3% of these 4,300 were rearrested for another sex crime against a child within 3 years of release from prison.

Among child molesters released from prison in 1994, 60% had been in prison for molesting a child 13 years old or younger.

Offenders who had victimized a child were on average 5 years older than the violent offenders who had committed their crimes against adults. Nearly 25% of child molesters were age 40 or older, but about 10% of the inmates with adult victims fell in that age range.

Nearly 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims; at least 20% have 10 to 40 victims.

An average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime.



As a child, I was victimized by an uncle and my grandfather. While I did tell my parents, no formal charges were ever brought up against these men. They continued to molest other children in the family until their death. I was too shamed to tell anyone else about the crimes at the time. I wonder if charges had been filed against these men and I had suffered through the humiliation of a trial and dealt with the degrading emotions of reliving my abuse, would their punishment had fit their crimes? It is not worth it, to this victim, to go through more pain just to have these men put in jail for a couple of months on misdemeanor charges. What can we do?

Child molestation victims remain victimized for the remainder of their lives. There is little justice for these children. The startling facts are that one in four girls are molested. One in eight boys are molested by age of 18. These innocents serve a life sentence of imprisonment.

Symptoms of a child abuse 'survivor':

(not all victims suffer from all of these and some may suffer from more than just these)

depression
sexual confusion
displaced anger
trust issues
panic disorder
social disorder
eating disorders
shame
drug abuse
post traumatic stress
sexual disorders
dissociation
fear
guilt
suicidal tendencies or suicide


The Victims:
http://www.darknesstolight.org/childrenstoriesvideo.asp


Knowing what we now know about the lingering effects of child abuse and the continued suffering of the victim, should the punishment of the abuser be more stiff? I am still left wondering, what you think. Does the punishment fit the crime?

I do not think so. If you agree and know of a way to make a change, please share your ideas. We must take action.




Go to this website and put your city in and see a map listing all 'known' offenders. There is almost one on every block. http://www.safetyalertnetwork.org/