Topic : 10/17 Sexual Predators?

I hear people all the time saying that these predators are a product of their own traumatic experiences and I believe this is very untrue.  I believe that all individuals who go through tragic events such as child molestation or rape are indefinitely affected throughout their life but I can't believe that, as a result of those events, they create monsters of themselves such as that of a child predator.  I believe it is something bigger than that.  I believe it is a sickness of the mind and it chooses to rear its ugly head at different times in a predator's life.  I don't believe a child molester can be cured and I believe that there are not enough laws protecting our children from these predators.  I get so angry seeing predators that receive probation or treatment in hospital style facilities and are then released to society when the recidivism rates of child predators is, in my opinion, unacceptably high.  We are failing our children when we release these known predators back into society. Communities are lacking in awareness and knowledge of the extent of these crimes and how often it actually occurs and to the people living around them.  We as a society only hear about the high-profile cases that make the news,  but what about the predators in our own back yards and neighborhoods that we might not be aware of? How many people know how to access and navigate through the sex offender registries that were designed for the public to become knowledgeable of child molesters in their own communities? Another thing, jail,treatment, and laws such as Megan's Law are all deterence techniques but in order for them to be practiced, there first has to be a victim.  Preventing a child from being violated and becoming another statistic is to combat the problem before it happens.  I tip my hat to everyone who has dedicated their lives to passing laws and protecting children and I have to believe that there is much more that can be done.  I believe more awareness through shows, such as this episode, is essential in learning better ways to protect our children.  I have to believe that we will come to a time when child molesting can be prevented rather than prosecuted.  This may be a very naive statement but then again, if you don't believe something can get done, who would ever have the drive or want to make the effort to accomplish something that seems so out of reach.  I will be on the forefront of continuing to protect our children and finding new avenues to take to prevent more children from becoming victims of these heinous acts.

Just last week, my son --now 27 -- told me he thought he may be suffering repressed memories about an event that happened around the time he was 8.  He has spent the last 10-15 years struggling with life, self-medicating with drugs,  and alcohol. All the while I have been trying to help him get the help he needs. His anger at times has been uncontrollable.  He has refused counseling, has denied anything is wrong with him, until most recently. I do remember his friends -- two boys on his baseball team, and their father who was the coach.  Into the season, there were invitations for over-nights. Seemed innocent for boys to have a camp out or sleep-over (at the coach's house) -- BUT -- had I known, no matter how upset he may have become at the time -- I would never have allowed my son to go.  The father of the boys was later convicted of sexual child abuse, and remains on the list of sexual offenders.  So I HOPE and PRAY Dr. Phil WILL WARN parents of the dangers of "innocent" sleep-overs.  I can only hope my son is able to believe in himself again, and know that this wasn't any fault of his, so he can move forward. But what  he perceives happened has been somewhere in his memory eating away at his self-esteem, and feeding his self-doubt. Too many times in these cases,  the victim is pushed aside in this society, while the predator(s)/offender is treated with sympathy -- offered some pathetic justification (such as; they must have been abused as children).  What is the answer? Is there an answer in what we call our civilized culture?  I support all people who get the word out -- who protect and educate our children, and parents -- and get predators off the streets for good.  Not slaps on a wrist -- but serious measures that keep them away from innocent children.  From all  I have read, if they are pedophiles they will always have the urge to be predators to children and that tells me -- keep them behind bars away from children. But, also, parents need to be warned -- NO OVERNIGHTS, even at a home where you think you know your children will be safe.  I'll be watching today -- and I am so thankful they tracked down that guy so he can't hurt another little child.