Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Should pedophiles with criminal records be required to report their names and addresses to local authorities when they move?

Poll Sep. 19, 2011 - 05:27AM JST ( 29 )

Order by Time Order by Popularity

29 Comments

0

WeaselSep. 19, 2011 - 07:10AM JST

And this is debatable because...?
2

FarmboySep. 19, 2011 - 08:12AM JST

And this is debatable because

This is debatable because when you serve your time, you should have a fresh start. If murderers get a fresh start, then pedophiles should get a fresh start. And this is complicated because of research showing that people who are pedophiles remain pedophiles at heart, and though perhaps they can stop doing what they want to do, they don't stop wanting to do it.
0

smartacusSep. 19, 2011 - 08:28AM JST

The problem is they have to go somewhere once they are released and no community wants them. So they are constantly on the move, which is no good for everybody. I think it is prudent for police in the area to know if released pedophiles are residing in the neighborhood, but I definitely do not think local residents should be informed. That would create a powderkeg.

There is a really good 1960s British film called "The Mark," that deals with this issue.
2

JapanGalSep. 19, 2011 - 09:55AM JST

They should be neutered
2

concentratedsinSep. 19, 2011 - 09:55AM JST

i said yes. maybe not all pedophiles repeat what they have done again, but it's a good idea to keep communities safer. why take the risk?
2

johninnahaSep. 19, 2011 - 09:56AM JST

It depends largely on the definition of "pedophile."

If this means someone of mature age having some kind of sexual activity with a child who hasn't reached puberty yet, I can understand the need for severe action. Although, it would be better to give the person a chance and put them on probation, wouldn't it? Like any other crime. And after 10 years, or whatever the time is, and they have behaved themselves, the probation could end.

If this means a mature man having sex with a girl of 15 years and 11 months, where the age limit is 16, no, of course not.

What makes this whole area difficult is the pathetic inaccuracy and ineptitude of psychiatry.

They can't agree on what exactly constitutes pedophilia and so, consequently have no way to cure it. And because they cannot cure it, they imply that it's incurable and so, a person could be stigmatized for life for a single mistake. And there is the possibility that the girl in question did look 18 and gave the guy considerable encouragement.

Quite a different situation to an older guy groping five year olds.
2

GurukunSep. 19, 2011 - 11:32AM JST

They should be neutered

LOL! And if the molester was a woman? Not all of them are males.
0

100million n U won?Sep. 19, 2011 - 07:37PM JST

What makes this whole area difficult is the pathetic inaccuracy and ineptitude of psychiatry

What a load of bollocks. Psychiatry isn't the problem, the legal definition is the problem... particularly in Japan.

They should be neutered

I second this, motion carried, move on.

And if the molester was a woman?

Spayed
-1

LeopalacesuxSep. 19, 2011 - 08:28PM JST

It depends largely on the definition of "pedophile."

And it seems that after psychiatry came up with that word, everybody had no further use for psychiatry or the scientific method in general. Oh, they were so happy for the new label and concept and subgroup to kick around, but the world definitely does not want to hear anything concerning the topic that is not in lock step with any random preconceived notion that can be uttered. So don't blame psychiatry.

The question does not appear to be using any psychiatric definition of the word anyway. It would be far better if they said those convicted of sexual offenses with minors. But that would actually invite critical thinking, and that is as much anathema as it was in the 1600s in Salem when the topic was witches.

Another poorly defined term in this brief question is "local authorities". Who the hell is that exactly?

Regardless, recidivism is low here. Copying the tactics of the authorities where is is high would be like a coach having the champ copy the training program of the loser. Its a massive "duh" for anyone with a drop of sense in their head.
-1

gonemadSep. 19, 2011 - 11:30PM JST

In case this rule applies to all serious criminals AND the scope of the rule is clearly defined AND access is limited to relevant people I could agree to it. But we have to be careful. If we start witch hunting criminals after they have served their terms we will only drive them further into criminality and in the end we will get the opposite of what we wanted to achieve, less security for everybody.

The unclear way the question is put, corresponding to the demagogic way it is currently used in the political discussion, the answer can only be no.
0

kchozeSep. 20, 2011 - 02:43AM JST

I do think that having local authorities know their whereabouts is acceptable, as long as the information is not made public to the community at large. So if there are new abuses against children in the area, the investigation may quickly find them and see if they are at it again.

However, public registries in my opinion hurt the chances of rehabilitation, lead to mob justice mentalities and, ironically, increases the chance of recidivism as the people with criminal records are isolated from society and kept from finding a useful, productive place in it.
1

namabiru4meSep. 20, 2011 - 08:34AM JST

This is reporting to "local authorities" and is not making the information public. I think any criminal that is convicted and released of being a pedophile, murderer, rapist, arsonist, etc. should have to register with local law enforcement. Then the police have a better chance of ensuring they do not repeat.

It just makes sense to me.
1

ka_chanSep. 20, 2011 - 10:39AM JST

The authorities should track all criminals and I would hope that the condition of pedophile's release would be to keep clear of schools and children's areas.
2

Kevin Lee BrookeSep. 20, 2011 - 03:17PM JST

concentratedsinSep. 19, 2011 - 09:55AM JST

i said yes. maybe not all pedophiles repeat what they have done again, but it's a good idea to keep communities safer. why take the risk?

ESPECIALLY when the "risk" is to children - who are innocent, helpless victims that can easily be enticed by such worthless scum.
1

FrungySep. 20, 2011 - 08:37PM JST

FarmboySep. 19, 2011 - 08:12AM JST This is debatable because when you serve your time, you should have a fresh start. If murderers get a fresh start, then pedophiles should get a fresh start. And this is complicated because of research showing that people who are pedophiles remain pedophiles at heart, and though perhaps they can stop doing what they want to do, they don't stop wanting to do it.

So near and yet so far Farmboy. I agree that if one allows murderers, rapists and other violent criminals a fresh start then the same should apply to pedophiles.

However I disagree that there is "research showing" that pedophiles re-offend at higher rates than other types of criminals. In fact studies have found the exact opposite. The re-offense (recidivism) rate for pedophiles is around 10%, while the re-offense rate for violent criminals (murderers and rapists) is around 40%. Since these rates are constant across multiple countries (U.K., Canada and the U.S.) it is logical that a similar pattern would apply in Japan.

The claim that pedophiles re-offend more often is a lie, and one that is often repeated by politicians in order to stir up fear, but it has no basis in fact.
0

Thomas HaynesSep. 20, 2011 - 09:47PM JST

have they not been keeping track known sex-offenders?
-1

Sandra CaraanSep. 21, 2011 - 06:16AM JST

I can understand that people wanna know about stuff like this but I don't think it's fair to people whom have have done their time. They should not need to be shown off like that. It's their second chance and I'm sure it would be alot harder to try to become better and fit into society if people around you dont treat you as a human and with no respect. They'll probably just fall back into their bad ways. Another thing I think people don't think about is that a pedophile is not someone who has sexually violated a child, that's rapist!(pedo or other sexuallity) To be pedophile is just the fact that you're turned on by younger girls/boys and is in fact a sexuallity like any other. Sure people think it's gross and disgusting and sick but wasnt that what society thought of homosexuallity before? It's not something they can remove just like you and I can't remove what turns us on. I'm completely sure that there is ALOT of pedophiles who lives "normal" lives, not giving in to their sexuallity. It is such a shame that society have all this hate and don't understand what I've just written, they do not deserve to be neutered, spayed or any of that crap people say!
1

CrazyJoeSep. 21, 2011 - 06:16AM JST

Regardless of the the recidivism rate, one more victim is one too many for me.

Like rape, child molestation is one of the most underreported crimes: only 1-10% are ever disclosed. -FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin.
-4

Sandra CaraanSep. 21, 2011 - 06:35AM JST

Japan, the land that invented lolicon... just sayin' lol
0

johninnahaSep. 21, 2011 - 07:36AM JST

Like rape, child molestation is one of the most underreported crimes: only 1-10% are ever disclosed. -FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin.

How on Earth can they come up with figures like this?

It defies logic.

If they are undisclosed, how can they say what the percent is?
0

FarmboySep. 21, 2011 - 01:49PM JST

However I disagree that there is "research showing" that pedophiles re-offend at higher rates than other types of criminals. In fact studies have found the exact opposite.

Frungy,

The rates of repeated offenses are my no means clear, and arguments about this draw from varied sources, reaching varied conclusions. Saying someone is a "pedophile" doesn't narrow it down enough, and the variables are complex. The following is from

http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/content/82/4/457.full

The published rates of recidivism are in the range of 10% to 50% for pedophiles depending on their grouping.7,16,17,31,43,94,96-98 Some studies have reported that certain classes of pedophiles (eg, homosexual, nonrelated) have the highest rate for repeated offending compared with other sex offenders.17,99 Generally, homosexual and bisexual pedophiles have higher recidivism rates than heterosexual pedophiles.31,94,98,100 Incest pedophiles generally have the lowest rate of reoffense.98
0

HumanTargetSep. 21, 2011 - 02:01PM JST

Local authorities? Yes. Local residents? No.

I may be mistaken, but isn't this standard procedure for anyone who has committed a violent felony?
0

FrungySep. 21, 2011 - 07:51PM JST

FarmboySep. 21, 2011 - 01:49PM JST The rates of repeated offenses are my no means clear, and arguments about this draw from varied sources, reaching varied conclusions. Saying someone is a "pedophile" doesn't narrow it down enough, and the variables are complex. The following is from

You cited a range from 10% to 50%, so let's just take the average, 25%. Stil waaay lower than rapists, murderers and other violent criminals. My point is proven, you stated in your original post (unequivocably) that:

And this is complicated because of research showing that people who are pedophiles remain pedophiles at heart, and though perhaps they can stop doing what they want to do, they don't stop wanting to do it.

If 50~90% of them can stop doing it then you're wrong. Even at the worst estimates the most extreme pedophiles are, no worse than rapists and murderers.

I'm all for alerting authorities to keep an eye on criminals that are likely to re-offend, but in all fairness this needs to be done scientifically, linked to proven re-offense rates. I'd say any criminal that has more than a 25% chance of re-offending in a 5 year period should be under increased surveillance by the local police (not harassment, merely increased surveillance). To limit this to purely pedophiles is just plain stupid, it tries to imply that a woman being raped or someone being killed is less worthy of attention than someone touching an underage girl's ass on the train.
0

gonemadSep. 22, 2011 - 03:26AM JST

Regardless of the the recidivism rate, one more victim is one too many for me.

But what are your conclusions? The end justifies the means? Do you keep the same fundamentalist attitude when it comes to other, non-sexual, offenses? How about life-long imprisonment for traffic offenders? Too many children are hurt or killed in traffic accidents and the recidivism rate for traffic offenders is probably close to 100%.

Inconsiderate statements like yours forget that we have to keep a balance between cost and benefit for everything we do.
0

CrazyJoeSep. 22, 2011 - 11:14AM JST

I just stated my opinion regarding pedophiles. You are entitled to yours, too.
0

ReformedBasherSep. 23, 2011 - 12:03PM JST

@Frungy

To limit this to purely pedophiles is just plain stupid, it tries to imply that a woman being raped or someone being killed is less worthy of attention than someone touching an underage girl's ass on the train.

Spot on.

Unfortuantely though, a lot of kids end up dead, either because it's part of the sicko's perversion and/or so there's no witnesses. I say focus on the major crimes first. As for the camera-on-shoe bunch, getting caught is usually enough to scare them silly - give them comunity service or whatever and go after the real a$$holes.
0

KOJINSARUSep. 24, 2011 - 02:08AM JST

Registration: It works in America.
0

butterfly123Sep. 24, 2011 - 12:24PM JST

wait a minute - we are in Japan. Here we ALL must tell local authorities when we move ( non-Japanese - our foreign cards get amended and Japanese on their Juminhyo )...
-1

DisillusionedSep. 26, 2011 - 01:12AM JST

The answer has to be, YES! they should all go onto a public register and be named and shamed for the rest of their pathetic lives. I'd even go as far as to suggesta tattoo on their foreheads. Not to serve as punishment, but to serve as a deterrent for anyone that want to try their hand at kiddy fiddling in the future.