What Parents Should Know About Sex Offenders
Thursday, February 23, 2012 5:00AM
After listening to convicted sex offenders explain their compulsions, and after hearing from a variety of experts, "Anderson" panelists weigh in on some of the most important things that parents should learn from the "Inside the Mind of a Sex Offender" episode.
"Presuming that someone's going to do right because they're a professional is not enough," says Steve, an "Anderson" panelist and a professional educator. "We have to take a great deal of responsibility in situations such as this."
Parents, our panelists say, are the first line of defense, so it is important for them to be in tune with what's occurring in the lives of their children.
Hear more in the video below.
Filed Under: As Seen On The Show
Comments
Isn't being a gay sexual deviant in itself a sexual offense
I know I am offended
Isn't being a gay sexual deviant enough to be considered a sexual offense ??
I know I am offended
whats the blacks guys name on the panel towards the end of this show???
I applaud the show for informing parents of the dangers of sexual predators and giving parents some ideas on how to protect their children. However, I would like to further challenge the show to give the public more accurate information.
1. Greater than 90% of hands on offenses are by someone the child already has a relationship with so perpetuating the "stranger danger" myth does not really protect our children.
2. Take a closer look at those on the sex offender registry. Many adult males are on there because they had a relationship with their girlfriend when they were both younger, e.g. and 19 year old male with a 17 yr old female, called Romeo and Juliet offenses. These males stay on the registry and are listed as inappropriate behavior with a minor. Sounds awful if they are now 35 yrs old and on the registry but they were young themselves. Just because of an arbitrary line drawn to separate adult from child they now must be paraded out in public as a "Sex offender" and when people hear that label they automatically think molester, pedophile or rapist. In 11 states you can be put on the sex offender registry for urinating in public. In other states, getting caught mooning someone will also land you on the registry. Lets not even begin to talk about the new issues of "sexting" and how that will effect all of our children with the advances in technology.
3. Lets look at who is on the registry and use it for it's original intent, get those who are dangerous, and make sure law enforcement knows where they can be found.
4. Residency restrictions do nothing to really protect the public. Common sense says that living 2501 ft away from a school does not make children any safer than living 2499 ft. Besides, if a male rapes adult women, just because he is now labeled a "Sex Offender" does not mean he is suddenly interested in children so how close he lives to a school will not keep our children safe.
I am certainly not in favor of anything that would harm children, I have 3 children of my own, but I do support realistic and common sense thinking when it comes to dealing with these offenders after they have already served their punishments. I do not believe that any of these ridiculous laws and restrictions protect any of our children. They do however create a false sense of security for the naive public. The press and government officials have done a dis-service by spreading inaccurate information and helped in creating a hot button issue that eliminates the civil rights of a small (but growing) sector of our nations population.
The thinking will change when enough people are somehow touched by these restrictions and labels. When it is your husband, your child or your father who is now suddenly listed on a public registry while never harming another living person, then the public will educate themselves and fight to change these laws. Everyone will then be safer in the long run.
I bought a laptop over 5 yrs ago and automaticlly put tape over the camera. Call me paranoid but It's a sick world and thought maybe someone could see me. It was so not unreal but to see it on tv made me glad to be so paranoid. Thank you for putting that show on. More shows should be on like yours. thank you thank you.
I was sexually assaulted when I was only 8 year's old by my 'favourite' babysitter. I only talked to my mother about it when I was 21 years old, all she did was shed a tear and she never talked to me about it since the moment I told her. I am now 23 years old and the only people I have EVER told are my mom and my husband. It's way to hard to talk about it and in times where I have tried to talk about it or tell someone about it, i find myself changing the subject because it is way to painful to talk about. mostly because even the guy that sexually assaulted me doesn't know that I know what he did to me. This is the first time I openly say what happened to me publicly. I am only doing this because for once in my life I am hoping to get advice that is worth listening to. I do not want to be told that I should pray, or that I should just try to ignore the thoughts. I dream about it every single night, the details of that night, everything about it, every single night i relive what happened. Anderson says that talking about it helps.. I have a hard time thinking that way, because I told my MOM the one I thought would help me through what I had gone through, and she did nothing, absolutely nothing. I don't know who to talk to or what to say. I have tried therapy and talking to professionals but no one ever seems trust worthy enough to me. I feel like I am living in a shell allllllllll the time. I have a 6 month old daughter now and all I worry about it how I am going to protect her, I keep her away from everyone just because of what I have been through. I dont trust ANYONE. I need HELP!
I want to talk about how some male teachers are to warn mothers. Ask your teenaged daughter if any male teacher is very nice to her, if he gives money to his students for their work done at school, if he asks her questions:" Are you doing this for your boyfriend/father?" because he wants to know if she has one(s). It is inappropriate. I was involved with a 40something high-school teacher, very calculating, manipulative and controlling, and he talked a lot about how he "groomed" his students, that he would give 20$ to them for their work to come across as generous. In fact, he is not. In September he would not stop saying: "8th graders are so cute, I just love them!" One day he said too much: "I love 8th graders - the girls are so cute! Many do not have boyfriends, some even fathers, they are starving for male attention, approval and affection. I was sweet to them (intentionally) - many had crush on me..." He was obsessed with 13 years old girls and to be around them he became a teacher (he was 30something then). His main goal is to impress a pretty female student of his who could not get a boyfriend or/and who did not have a father around, and who could not wait to leave her home. Most likely when she graduates/drops out of school, she would want to be with the "nice and generous" teacher. Then he would look for a job somewhere, where no one knows both of them, so he would not loose his job. Or he would take a year break. Anything just to be with an underaged girl - his career is not important to him. His history with women: only short-term relationships, once was married (a year later was divorced) to an older woman who had a very beautiful young teenaged daughter. Once told me that he was in the girl's bedroom when she was asleep, but added (not to sound suspicious) that he was serving her breakfast in bed. Most likely when her mother was at work...
Christine,
I'm sorry, but "everyone" around you is not a victim. If you live in paranoia you'll constantly be feeding your fear. You just need to be responsible and aware and most importantly, be involved with your children. I will leave you with Matthew 6:15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Christine,
I'm sorry, but "everyone" around you is not a victim. If you live in paranoia you'll constantly be feeding your fear. You just need to be responsible and aware and most importantly, be involved with your children. I will leave you with Matthew 6:15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
You can't teach children the proper warning signs when you buy into the "sex offender" myth. It is easy to create mythical "monsters" but hard to understand reality because media feeds us the monster myth. When people say sex offender, they think of those rare tragic cases exploited by the media. But the media is all about money. The REAL reason Cooper is covering this is because he needs a serious ratings boost.
Christine,
Has this registrant bothered you or is it that you are afraid they might? The gist of my argument is that there are many folks out there who are not on any registry and are the ones we have to educate our kids about. The Jerry Sanduskys and all the people in the news every night who are "not" on any registry but their actions are coming to light. And, now that adults and kids alike feel empowered as a result of the Penn State, Syracuse University and other high profile case, you are going to hear where they other 95% of sexual offenses come from. The recidivism rate for registrants is 5% and that is for another "sexual" type offense.
Vicki Henry
Another thing that all parents (and employers) should know is that not ALL registered Sex-Offenders are guilty of molesting children-in any way, shape or form. This is a damaging, misconception caused by legal 'labeling'. Many have had their lives totally ruined by this labeling- Many have served prison time by doing nothing more than downloading- or even entering a sexually oriented website! These 'offenders'- many with no previous records at ALL- good, hard-working citizens...who have lost everything when they were unfairly registered as a Sex-Offender, under the 'Pandering sexually oriented Materials'- Often unjustly convicted- involving computer items THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN! Please do not judge- based on this 'Label'.
What do those of us who have sex offenders living next door do when they have offended 2 times, plus have also been found guilty of lewd acts to an animal, and are on the sex offender list? True, not made up or mistaken identity. I feel that my kids are prisoners because of the creep being allowed in a community with children. People who stick up for offenders clearly are close to them in some way, or know them well. Anyone in their right minds wouldn't otherwise. It is not my children's fault that they did what they did to someone, so why should they suffer for it? There is no way they can go outside and play alone. Yet the pedophile can walk up the street and do as they please, bull****! People even let him in their house and they have 2 small children! Everyone around these people are victims, and it is ridiculous! There is no other way to put it.
What do those of us who have sex offenders living next door do when they have offended 2 times, plus have also been found guilty of lewd acts to an animal, and are on the sex offender list? True, not made up or mistaken identity. I feel that my kids are prisoners because of the creep being allowed in a community with children. People who stick up for offenders clearly are close to them in some way, or know them well. Anyone in their right minds wouldn't otherwise. It is not my children's fault that they did what they did to someone, so why should they suffer for it? There is no way they can go outside and play alone. Yet the pedophile can walk up the street and do as they please, bull****! People even let him in their house and they have 2 small children! Everyone around these people are victims, and it is ridiculous! There is no other way to put it.
I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. For 3 years, 11-14, I was sexually abused and exploited by a mentor in my neighborhood. The abused affected me so much, I later became a police officer / detective so no child went through the same shame as me.
I was "groomed" for months before the abuse started. The grooming process wad the foundation of our trust and more importantly, my silence.
I applaud your work for giving parents some insight on warning signs that their child is being sexually abuse.