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I'm sure most of you at InsanelyMac have heard of the American Television series To Catch a Predator. In a typical episode, members of Perverted Justice go into chatrooms and pose as children aged 13-15. If a pedophile shows interest in the child (PJ member in reality), they are told to go to X location. When the pedophile arrives at X location NBC, Chris Hansen and the local police are waiting. Chris Hansen then proceeds to question the pedophile on why they are there and such.

 

When watching clips of the show on Youtube, one thing was bothering me; These were people who clearly need mental/social help, yet they are given a $20,000 to $40,000 bail, and 1-5 Felony charges (depending on state law). This video in particular was very depressing to watch: Youtube Video, that man obviously has issues/problems. These sting operations always result in ruined lives, and in one case suicide. Remember, with the types of felonies these people have pressed against them, there is no chance for a decent occupation.

 

In no way am I approving of/sympathizing with pedophilia here, but is sending these people to jail the best solution? How do you guys feel?

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In no way am I approving of/sympathizing with pedophilia here, but is sending these people to jail the best solution? How do you guys feel?

 

I don't know if you have noticed but here in america we have a serious prison problem. They are all out of date and in need of repair. Most are running above max capacity. But then you have to think, what else are we going to do. We can't let them go since they are a threat to the public and we can't kill them because it would be like the Nazis. We would have our own death camps basically. So I guess just lock them up. Till the prison system fails then I don't want to know what will happen.

So I guess just lock them up.

Apposed to letting them go or killing (strong word, but I realize you weren't trying to be inhumane in using it) them as you said, that is the best choice. Why not, put them on indefinite probation, and require them to attend a psychologist?

The only issue I see with my hypothetical solution is the cost -_-

And you can't "Fix" everyone. Some people have permanent deficiencies. Mom drank when she was pregnant and made the babies brain wire wrong. It has been proven that some people do not feel any guilt when killing and think it's ok because there brain is hard wired that way. They can't help it but it's dangerous to put them on the street.

AFAIK, something like that would be illegal in any good juridicature, since you decieved someone beforehand to gain "evidence".

 

Point is: there is none. There is no evidence that there was intercourse between these two, so there is no case. There isn't even evidence that he planned to - what if he merely wanted to meet with the kid to tell him how wrong it is to respond to strangers on the internet?

I don't know if you have noticed but here in america we have a serious prison problem. They are all out of date and in need of repair. Most are running above max capacity. But then you have to think, what else are we going to do. We can't let them go since they are a threat to the public and we can't kill them because it would be like the Nazis. We would have our own death camps basically. So I guess just lock them up. Till the prison system fails then I don't want to know what will happen.

Release nonviolent drug offenders, that would reduce headcount in prisons by 25-35% right off the bat.

 

To the point though: I think prison has to be some component in a convicted pedophile's rehabilitation. It should not be the only component by any means - I think psychological counseling should play a larger role than it does currently.

I won't even touch the pedophilia issue (although my female counselling teacher used to say that they were the latest scapegoats-but now the latest ones are terrorists).

 

http://www.scapegoat.demon.co.uk/

 

However I have always wondered why the US and the UK feel such an urge to put people in prison (prisons which are very often living hells)

I won't even touch the pedophilia issue (although my female counselling teacher used to say that they were the latest scapegoats-but now the latest ones are terrorists).

 

http://www.scapegoat.demon.co.uk/

 

However I have always wondered why the US and the UK feel such an urge to put people in prison (prisons which are very often living hells)

 

To keep criminals off their streets?

That and "sex offenders" have a very low rate of recovery. Something like 80% of the ones that get out end up doing it again. It might just be the approach that is being taken to help them, but until they figure something else out I don't want them hanging out in any playgrounds.

 

Prisons aren't meant to be happy places, when you commit a crime like rape, murder, etc. you should be punished (harshly).

To keep criminals off their streets?
Of course one might wonder if prison is the right solution for all "criminals". Here in Italy many get house arrest and/or rehabilitation.
Prisons aren't meant to be happy places, when you commit a crime like rape, murder, etc. you should be punished (harshly).
That is why we are worlds apart. The Italian Constitution say that offenders should be rehabilitated, not "harshly punished"

Haha... Anybody seen the South Park episode 'La Petite Tourette', where as a method of keeping Cartman off-air, a plot is organised to get hundreds of paedophiles to arrive at Chris Hansen's studio, and upon doing so, they all commit suicide?

 

That cracked me up, but I guess it's quite sad really. These people do need help.

Haha... Anybody seen the South Park episode 'La Petite Tourette', where as a method of keeping Cartman off-air, a plot is organised to get hundreds of paedophiles to arrive at Chris Hansen's studio, and upon doing so, they all commit suicide?

 

That cracked me up, but I guess it's quite sad really. These people do need help.

I loved that episode, it had so many 'To Catch a Predator' parodies like 'I brought you some Wendy's' and 'I made brownies'.

That and "sex offenders" have a very low rate of recovery.

A lot of times, that is the case.

I won't even touch the pedophilia issue (although my female counselling teacher used to say that they were the latest scapegoats-but now the latest ones are terrorists).

Seems like everything these days is blamed on 'terrorists' :o

That is why we are worlds apart. The Italian Constitution say that offenders should be rehabilitated, not "harshly punished"

I know killing is wrong. If I kill someone I don't need rehabilitated, I just need punishment. In the case of a sex offender though, rehabilitation is very important.

I have to agree with thegodfaza that prisons are maxed out. Whats interesting ins that the government spends ~$10000 a year on a prisoner where I live and people would rather be in jail than homeless. Well also, I'm in Arizona and it hit 117 this summer.

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