Are sex offenders usually repeat offenders?

[abcgrad94]

On another thread in the pastor's forum, I made the assumption that sex offenders are dangerous and should not be trusted because they are repeat offenders. Another poster gave links that would seem to dispute this, at least partly.

Before I respond to him, anyone else care to chime in?

 

[Squidward]

Worked in corrections for 21 years including assigned to units with sex offenders and sat in on many of their group therapy sessions. They are usually the most frequent to reoffend. Murderers don't spend much of time wondering how to murder, thieves the same way although petty thieves are notorious repeat offenders. Petty thieves that repeat over and over are more opportunists seeing an open door to grab something at the spur of the moment. Sex offenders think, ponder, and strategize ways of finding new victims. Not all reoffend, but most of them will or at least think about it obsessively.

 

[DaChaser1]

On another thread in the pastor's forum, I made the assumption that sex offenders are dangerous and should not be trusted because they are repeat offenders. Another poster gave links that would seem to dispute this, at least partly.

Before I respond to him, anyone else care to chime in?

Would see them much same as serial killers...
Both ONLY hope to change is to be washed/cleansed by blood of the lamb!

 

[preachinjesus]

Other than ad hoc rationalizations I doubt this kind of forum is an appropriate venue to consider whether your charge has merit.

 

[abcgrad94]

Other than ad hoc rationalizations I doubt this kind of forum is an appropriate venue to consider whether your charge has merit.

I have already notified a mod about this thread and if he deems it inappropriate, I am sure he will let me know shortly. I did not start the thread to offend, but to move the topic to a debate area so we could discuss it further.

 

[Gina B]

I've dealt with this on a number of levels, and my experience with sex offenders is that it is a myth that the reciprocation level is low.
If they have the type of victim of their choice available to them, they are very likely to take advantage of that opportunity. For example, if a person likes a certain gender and age, they will always struggle with the temptation to do it again and many will.

Then there are the "oh, now I'm saved so everyone should trust me" types. They're just looking for suckers to believe them. The ones that are honestly made new will understand that their past offenses on earth make them untrustworthy and for the safety of others, they need to be held accountable and not given positions of trust where they could be tempted to repeat the sin.

Some might wait ten years, some might wait twenty years, but go watch and wait and there they go again...

That type of sin is extremely difficult to manage. Any guy posting here who has struggled with internet p--n and is honest can tell you it remains a struggle, that the images in their head pop up often and it has changed the way they see females.

Now I do know of one, ONE sex offender I worked with in a ministry that quit. He was a repeat offender, but then he got in a motorcycle wreck, suffered a lot of physical damage including brain damage, and for all appearances seemed unable to figure out much more than how to get dressed in the morning and how to help make a salad, but nothing that had to be cooked.

Being a Christian forum and being that churches are ideal places for sex offenders to gain trust and access to their victims, I find this topic well-suited to the forum. It is something churches need to be on high alert about and take precautions with, if they aren't already. Fortunately, some have opened their eyes and started being more aware of this as a problem to be dealt with instead of ignored, hidden, or even defended, as some do defend it and say we should all just forgive and forget because that's what Jesus would do. Well, none of us are Jesus and this isn't heaven, this is earth and we are to face the consequences of our actions on earth right here on earth when we hurt other human beings.

 

[HAMel]

...I find this topic well-suited to the forum.

I agree! Way too many Christians stick their heads in the sand to avoid dealing with what is otherwise in our face on a daily basis.

 

[righteousdude2]

Experience has Taught Me...

...that once a cheater, always a cheater; once a molester, always a molester; once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic, once a racist, always a racist, once a Baptist, always a Baptist (just checking to see if you were reading the entire paragraph); once a rapist, always a rapist; once an abuser, always an abuser; once addicted, always addicted.

Now I'm not saying that with medical assistance, and good counseling and ongoing support group involvement, a person can't overcome the tendencies to relapse. However, the truth is, people subjected to these socially deviant behaviors (except being a Baptist, maybe? :laugh needs to realize they are in for a life time of temptations and the fight to stay clean and free of these sins against self and society, are going to be with the person until their death.

I base these opinions and views on professional experience in the field of counseling and social work. I have seen the way too many people claim to be healed and new, only fall to old habits. It is a shame, and a tragedy for those who are addicted to something and truly want to make a clean break, but the facts are, there will always be that voice from within that calls to them to return to the old ways, and without a strong support group and an even stronger personal constitution of inner fortitude, the person guilty of these social deviancies will be repeated offenders.

In a way, this is true within the hearts of each who are born-again in Christ. The old man may have been put to death, spiritually speaking, but, there is always going to be the voice of self and the devil working to tempt and pull the new nature of the born-again child back into committing sin.

Similar to those who are addicted to social deviancies, Christians need a strong support group (church and Bible study), prayer, and the right group of persons to hand with in order to lessen the chances of falling to temptations continued call.

Making a change for the good, or to borrow an old term used in the old Taco Bell ads, "Run for the border," takes commitment, dedication and hard work. And for some, it just never comes about, because like the Parable of the seed, some seed just falls on ground that never allows for long-term growth! :type:

 

[plain_n_simple]

All a person needs to do is repent and believe the gospel, be baptized and become a new creature in Christ, anything else is worldly and will fail. It is a matter of changing the heart. If you lust in the heart, it's the same as doing it physically.

 

[annsni]

All a person needs to do is repent and believe the gospel, be baptized and become a new creature in Christ, anything else is worldly and will fail. It is a matter of changing the heart. If you lust in the heart, it's the same as doing it physically.

Yet even when one is saved, they still struggle with sin and can still sin. Just because they are saved doesn't mean that they will never sin again.

 

[plain_n_simple]

Which is why we exhort and encourage, it is a possibility to never sin again, reckon yourself dead to sin.

 

[Christos doulos]

Other than ad hoc rationalizations I doubt this kind of forum is an appropriate venue to consider whether your charge has merit.

I beg to differ. This is exactly the sort of thing we should be discussing

The Tragic Lessons of Penn State — A Call to Action by Al Mohler

http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/11/10/the-tragic-lessons-of-penn-state-a-call-to-action/

"What about churches, Christian institutions, and Christian schools? The Penn State disaster must serve as a warning to us as well, for we bear an even higher moral responsibility"......

 

[annsni]

Which is why we exhort and encourage, it is a possibility to never sin again, reckon yourself dead to sin.

Is it?

..............

 

[Gina B]

Here is a decent link that discusses it, pretty much saying what everyone knows...that they don't really know because offenses are under-reported. It appears unbiased. It does talk about child sex offenders having a higher rate than other types of offenders.

Here it is: http://csom.org/pubs/recidsexof.html

 

[Amy.G]

I certainly believe God forgives sinners. He forgives even the most heinous crimes, but there are earthly consequences. Perpetrators of s*xual crimes, especially against children should be kept away from children. It simply isn't worth the risk and if the man who committed the crime is a true believer, he will understand this.

 

[plain_n_simple]

Is it?

..............

Possible to not sin? Yes

 

[Amy.G]

Possible to not sin? Yes

Yeah, for animals.

 

[plain_n_simple]

Scripture and Jesus differ from that mindset

 

[Amy.G]

Scripture and Jesus differ from that mindset

No scripture agrees that man is not sinless. We all struggle with it because we are still in the flesh. Paul makes this very clear.

 

[plain_n_simple]

Reckon yourself dead to sin. So a man thinks, so he is. Follow the spirit so not to fulfill the lusts of the flesh. You think you are a failure before it happens, get rid of sin conscience