My Personal Stance on Registered Sex Offenders and Rehabilitation

The question of whether or not a registered sex offender can be rehabilitated or not is a bit broad. Let's break that down a bit, yes? When folks hear the term 'Sex Offender' they automatically are inclined to put capital letters on that and see red. The truth is, in the USA you can get arrested for peeing in a dark alley, and that can result in you being tagged as a sex offender. So, for the purposes of this article, let's just toss those folks on out of here, shall we? I mean seriously... why does that even happen? The law books need some serious revision. They are not sex offenders, they merely had a full bladder.

When referring to registered sex offenders, I will be meaning true sexual abusers. We are talking about rapists and child molesters... and honestly, it doesn't matter if they have been arrested yet and thus have to register. Alas, that was how the question was put to me, so that's what is in the title. Just keep in mind I mean all sexual predators here.

As to who the hell I am to even have an opinion worth bothering about, Well, I'm a retired criminologist and therapist with extensive education, research, and hands-on dealings with both sexual molesters and their victims. I won't list the myriad of initials that should follow my name as I really don't find that relevant other than to show off. Let it stand that you may quote me if you're writing a paper as I have served as expert witness. As such, I am my own source for this article. Alright?

I am a U.S. citizen, but I live in Sweden now. I mention this only because Sweden is a country that is all in favor of rehabilitation. That's as opposed to the US system which is all about retribution. I absolutely agree with Sweden's system... with the exception of this very subject: Sexual offenders.

Let's just hit the basics here. Every single study I have ever come across or ran myself has come to the same conclusions. Longitudinal studies are rare as most studies end at 5 years. Either the person doing the studies graduates and loses interest in continuing the study, or they have bought the bull that 5 yrs is a valid time-line on things like this. It is not. Especially with this population. Well... let me backtrack there a slight bit. Some offenders do manage to go the 5 years without molesting again. The problem with the studies that end there is that each and every one of these sexual offenders will tell you quite openly that they fight the urge to rape or molest every waking moment. So, at the end of that 5 years they are marked as 'cured' for all intents and purposes, even though the likelihood of them offending again is off the charts. On the other hand, because they do admit to this, 5 years is all it takes as long as you are documenting that nothing at all has changed in their cognition. They might have been offense free for those 5 years, but with great difficulty.

The few who do manage to not commit further sexual offenses during these 5 year studies have not changed their outlook or world view one bit. They see nothing wrong with what they do. The women beg for it, the kids are merely being educated and loved. My stance as a professional is that they manage to stem their activity simply to get folks off their backs so they can resume their sexual offending without interruption.

In all my years dealing with sexual offenders and their victims, I have never - not once- met a rapist or child molester who was able to be rehabilitated. Nor do I ever expect to. If you let them fool you into thinking they have managed to change their ways, then you will be releasing them out to hunt again. To rape again. To molest children again. And make no mistake: the population of sexual offenders as a general rule can be very, very persuasive. My professional opinion is that sexual offenders can never be rehabilitated, registered or not.