Platform Draft Item 2.1.9, Sexual Violence, Proposed Change
Thursday May 24, @11:37AM, by Ralph Lopez
Subject : Draft Change Proposal, Sexual Violence
Summary :
Proposed language change item 2.1.9: No "rehabilitative" philosophy for violent sexual predators who prey on children.
Text :
Preface: On item 2.1.9, I favor strong emphasis on rehabilitation and education in general in our prison system, but I oppose the language in the last sentence of this item. In my view some sexual predators who commit certain heinous crimes, especially against children, cannot be rehabilitated, and although they should receive treatment, more children should not be endangered in order to ascertain whether or not the treatment has been effective. Nathaniel Jonahs-Bar, who was released from Massachusetts after 11 years in prison only to assault and cannibalize children in another part of the country, is a case in point. These offenders should be confined to prison or a treatment centers for extremely long sentences.

Proposed Draft Change -
I propose a change in the language of item 2.1.9 to read:

"While in theory the Sexual Offender Registry could further the aim of protecting the public, the current means of administering this registry is flawed and requires further evaluation and improvement so that persons not convicted of violent and aggressive sexual crimes are not unjustly stigmatized after serving their respective sentences, while those who are so convicted remain safely removed from society."
Reply

• Re: Platform Draft Item 2.1.9, Sexual Violence, Proposed Change
  Friday May 25, @05:03PM Friday May 25, @05:03PM, by Eric Merrill Budd
  I wrote the bulk of the revisions to the Criminal Justice plank, including the paragraph in question here.
  I would agree that pedophiles are generally beyond any rehabilitation and need to be removed from society. The intent of this new language is sound in terms of clarifying this point, although I might choose different wording:
  ", while those who are so convicted remain safely removed from society."
  to
  ", and sexual predators still deemed to be dangerous are monitored and isolated in the interests of public safety."
  Certainly let's discuss this further at Congress!
  > Proposed language change item 2.1.9: No "rehabilitative" philosophy for violent sexual predators who prey on children.
  > Preface: On item 2.1.9, I favor strong emphasis on rehabilitation and education in general in our prison system, but I oppose the language in the last sentence of this item. In my view some sexual predators who commit certain heinous crimes, especially against children, cannot be rehabilitated, and although they should receive treatment, more children should not be endangered in order to ascertain whether or not the treatment has been effective. Nathaniel Jonahs-Bar, who was released from Massachusetts after 11 years in prison only to assault and cannibalize children in another part of the country, is a case in point. These offenders should be confined to prison or a treatment centers for extremely long sentences.
  >
  > Proposed Draft Change -
  > I propose a change in the language of item 2.1.9 to read:
  >
  > "While in theory the Sexual Offender Registry could further the aim of protecting the public, the current means of administering this registry is flawed and requires further evaluation and improvement so that persons not convicted of violent and aggressive sexual crimes are not unjustly stigmatized after serving their respective sentences, while those who are so convicted remain safely removed from society."
  Reply