What Does It Take To Treat A Sex Offender?

What does it take to treat a sex offender?

Posted: May 02, 2010 9:58 PM EDT

SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA)- Dr. Paul McIntyre counsels offenders. He says they're not lost causes. "A lot of these sexual offenses is a learned behavior," says Dr. McIntyre. "Anything learned you can unlearn."

One registered sex offender we're naming John, agrees. He says rehabilitation is possible, but says its up to the offender. "They have to want to be or they won't be. It's that simple. If they go there just because it's a requirement, they're wasting their time, their money and the counselors time also," says John.

"They have to go through an intensive training course in prison before they get out, and then when they get out its continued through probation and parole," says Dr. McIntyre.

If they want additional help, they can see someone like Dr. McIntyre. "It's a psychological deal in their mind that this is the way I have a relationship. This is the way I find affection by hurting and raping somebody else," says Dr. McIntyre.

And if they can't find work or housing: "the first thing he'll do is go back to what he knows," says Dr. McIntyre.

John says he was lucky enough to get help and find work when he was released from prison. He's the resident manager for a home that helps to rehabilitate offenders.

"Of the nine, 10 years that I've been doing this, I have an 85 percent success rate of men who are going forward with their lives. I have had one sex offender out of 10 that is now arrested and in prison on a sex related charge," says John.

The public perception of sex offenders is that the majority of them re-offend. But according to research by the U.S. Department of Justice, recidivism rates aren't as high as you might expect averaging between 14% - 20% over five year follow up periods.

And sexual offenders who follow probation and treatment programs have lower re-offense rates than offenders who don't.

Dr. McIntyre says accused murderer Brian Horn is a classic example of someone who didn't stick with the program. Horn is accused of killing 12 year old Justin Bloxom back in March.

"He cut himself off from me from talking and trying to get his head right; he went back to his old ways. I'm not saying he did it, I'm not saying he didn't do it, but if you're a predator and you don't want to give that lifestyle up you're going back to prison; bottom line," says Dr. McIntyre.

So, there's no guarantee that they won't offend again, as it's a life long challenge for some. And every sex offender has different issues mostly based on the offense committed.

For instance, sex offenders who rape children tend to re-offend regardless of treatment.

http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=12413496

Did anyone see on the news tonite that many convicted sex offenders, including child molestors, work for the postal service delivering mail in neighborhoods. They tried to interview 4 different men, as they delivered their mail, but none would talk to the interviewers. All these were in the Dallas, TX area, but they say they are all over the USA.

How did they get these jobs, isn't there tests you have to past to work for the postal service? I just talked with a friend who works for the post office here, and she had to take a big test, and they also ran a criminal back ground check on her.

One of the guys they tried to interview had just delivered the mail to an elementary school. He was convicted of molestation of a 12 y/o boy in 1995, and that was only 15 years ago. They said he had worked for the post office for 8 years. So did he not have to serve much time for this, and started to work as soon as he got out of prison?

Something is not right here.

I know the molester that got me when I was three years old, also got my eight year old brother, also got a lot of other kids in our neighbourhood. I'm just "lucky" he was the type of molester that returns his little victim to her home after he's "finished", instead of murdering his victim. I am always grateful for having not been murdered.

How to treat them? Chemical castration? Does that work?

Eva said above:

How to treat them? Chemical castration? Does that work?

That still does not take the desire away, only their ability of acting, except with inanimate objects, which, in my opinion, would be just as bad.

Piper,

This is a great question!
I think there are some glitches with the registry where it isnt always clear what type of crime was committed..

My understanding is that RSO have very different degrees of the nature of offense all mixed in to one registry..If this is the case, I think it shouldbe revamped in some way..

eg. crimes involving a married couple,

Or where a 17 or 18 yr old who is charged with stat rape as a result of a 16 yr old consenting girlfriend...

Not too belittle either offense however I wud like to see peds and violent crimes such as rape be classified differently...

I wud like to see anyone charged with anything to do with children (of course including anyone charged with child porn) be classified in a group of their own, then a different group be created for rapes and any sexual assualts, then the statutory rape being in another category... (16 and up) anything involing teens 15 thru 17....

I read somewhere that the highest of RSO are mostly stat rape of inappropriate relationship ages ..

I dont condone these teen relationships, however I find it may be confusing for LE to weed thru this type of offender..where LE wud have to follow protocol in terms of ruling them out for a sexual crime .. If they are looking for an offender involving lets say a crime like lilttle Somer.. I think time cud be wasted if LE are looking to rule out the stat rape RSO.

Its a hard stand I am taking and like I said I dont condone it, but I think we need to keep the registry as neat as possible..

eva wrote:
How to treat them? Chemical castration? Does that work?

How 'bout a rope and a tall, tall, tree?

"So, there's no guarantee that they won't offend again, as it's a life long challenge for some. And every sex offender has different issues mostly based on the offense committed.

For instance, sex offenders who rape children tend to re-offend regardless of treatment."

Above snipped by me: They know pedophiles cannot be treated.......so I say "Off with their heads!" They do not belong in society.

AJ, I know what you are saying on the varying degree of the offense.

Quoted from the article
"A lot of these sexual offenses is a learned behavior," says Dr. McIntyre. "Anything learned you can unlearn."

I say that a learned behavior is a poor excuse for committing rape.

Quote:
"It's a psychological deal in their mind that this is the way I have a relationship. This is the way I find affection by hurting and raping somebody else," says Dr. McIntyre.

And if they can't find work or housing: "the first thing he'll do is go back to what he knows," says Dr. McIntyre

My response to this doc:
A relationship in a rape??
Finding affection by hurting/raping?
He'll do it AGAIN because he can't find work or housing?
These are BS excuses submitted by someone who makes a living from "rehabilitating" sex offenders. I find these excuses offensive.

The ba$tard who attacked me when I was ten had a job, a pregnant wife, and two kids. It was later discovered that he had recently moved into a new home across the street from mine. He got probation as a first offender. Did I feel safe because they said he wouldn't hurt me again?

I agree Cali, and this doctor saying that Brian Horn "didn't stick with the program" and went back to his old ways because he stopped talking to him, the doctor, is total BS. They cannot be "fixed".

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Oprahs-Conversation-with-Child-Molesters

This is a really good interview if you can stomach it. I had to watch it in small doses.

Hi Jag! Thanks for sharing, I started on it and it is difficult to watch. I will finish it bit by bit. As repulsive as it is to hear, their mindset is always of interest to me. Because I always have the same question...why????