kengr

I don't agree that violent sexual predators (whether or not their victims are children) should be released unsupervised into society, ever, no matter whether they've gone to jail or not, because they're dangerous. They're not like a murderer who killed the one person they really hated, they'll do it again; and their crimes can't be 'paid for' like theft because they don't involve property.

People like that are mentally ill and dangerous, and they should not be running around loose and unsupervised with no warning to their potential neighbours.

That's the idea behind the sex offender laws, and I agree with it, period, end of story.

The problem isn't that we're not willing to say to a man who has raped 5 kids under 12 "okay, we're going to forget about that now," because that is not something it is EVER appropriate to forget about. Once you've done that, I personally think they should lock you up and throw away the key. But if they need to let you out you should be watched.

However, these laws, which are perfectly appropriate to apply to dangerous persons we don't know how to cure, should NEVER be applied to people who are not dangerous. The problem is not that this law exists and some poor serial rapist never gets to be free to live next door to the girls' dorm again, boo hoo.

The problem is that the puritanical assholes who are currently in charge can't seem to tell the difference between guys who rape women with curling irons and teenagers who flash their tits or gay guys who fuck in the park. There needs to be an understanding that not all sex crimes are alike. Some of them, you really should never, EVER EVER be allowed to run around loose again after. And some of them should be a $100 fine and community service.