 |
Contact the CPAC.
|
|
CPAC Directors Media
Information 
The following article, written by Anne M. Cox, first appeared in The Justice Report (June 1996) and is copyrighted © by the CPAC.
A number of months ago inmates at a treatment center for sexually dangerous offenders contacted me -- as a publisher -- and sought help: They were not seeking release, but to prevent the release of felons warehoused as "patients." They related the belief that "treatment" for violent offenders hasn't been provided by professionals hired specifically for that purpose: Treat, evaluate, and aim for reintegration patients/inmates back into society.
The men who initiated contact are from a facility that opened its doors in the late 1950s; among the offenders still warehoused is one who has been cycling in and out of the same center for the last 20 plus years.
They've experienced "treatment," numerous therapists, experts, and courts, which they've admittedly worked toward their ends: Release. I've written extensively on the subject, and yet I know that I've barely grazed the surface (based on reams of documents I've received and felt great discomfort verifying, digesting, and synthesizing -- with the input of a PI, lawyers, prosecutors, and licensed professional therapists).
While I, and the inmates know, I thoroughly detest their criminal conduct perpetrated against children and women (and men whose lives have also been affected by heinous acts others have committed against their loved ones), I also find it relieving to see inmates finally saying that they were cleared as a result of the money they paid for "expert" testimony ($65,000 and up); they know it's wrong and they should never be free again: to rape, violently attack, and/or kill.
What disturbs me about their candor is that they're no different from many adults who have agreed to treatment as a condition of reaching plea agreements, arranged for the perpetrators' benefit.
The aspect I also deplore is that when abuse by a parent, or adult fulfilling a parental role in a child's life, mistreats a child, the response is different than if the child had been abused by a neighbor or authority figure not living in the same residence as the child harmed.
How did it ever come to pass that a child neglected, battered, raped, etc., by a parent should be treated any differently than adults who have been violated? An adult victim is not sought to participate in the offender's treatment needs, and the goal is not the eventual reunification of victim and offender under the same roof. Adult crime victims -- except in court procedures -- are not faced with the possibility that they may, some day, have to sit at the same breakfast table with the perpetrator.
How are reunification/family preservation efforts beneficial to child victims/survivors? It's better to keep the "family" facade intact. Perpetrators are known to cajole, coerce, control, groom... to abuse. I don't see how a child benefits by being reunited with a molester, rapist, negligent parent.
I've not heard from women offenders (though I know they exist as well), yet the men who target children for commiting offenses say they will rape again, given opportunity. While some of these men didn't rape members of their own families, some did and were cleared -- as no longer sexually dangerous -- and raped again and again till reported, caught and sentenced for "treatment."
I've read records and existing documents relevant to several dozen patients/inmates, none of whom were railroaded into telling authorities that their accusers were accurate, and records involving others who were given due process and convicted again and again and again following additional crimes for which they were charged, prosecuted and ordered to receive "treatment."
Why are we, as a society, putting children at risk by reunifying them with self-admitted perpetrators who come from the same households, and with other offenders who were tried and found guilty by jurors and judges? It doesn't even make sense, does it?
The CPAC is funded by Coalition members and supported by volunteer efforts, and does not seek grants/donations that non-profit entities may need to help children.
 |
 |
 |
 |
      |
 |
 |