Not all child molesters are pedophiles, woman says
Fears new laws are pushing offenders to rural areas
Stacy Barnes
A local woman who requested anonymity says the public needs to be educated on sex offenders. For the purpose of this story, she will be referred to as “Dora”. She and others are working to get the word out that the term “sex offender” does not apply only to child molesters, pedophiles and predators. In fact, she says, in Oklahoma, someone caught urinating in public can be convicted of indecent exposure and labeled a sex offender. Once that label is attached to a name, the person goes on the state sex offender registry and notifications are sent out to neighbors each time they move. While on parole, offenders must report to their parole officer in on a regular basis, attend treatment, submit to polygraph testing and some must wear a GPS.
Dora, who has extensive knowledge of sex offenders, says the polygraphs are a good measure of whether or not someone might reoffend.
In Oklahoma, convicted sex offenders are required to register for a period of ten years. Habitual and aggravated offenders must register for their lifetime. As of April 2006 there were 51,560 registered sex offenders in Oklahoma, with 970 delinquent offenders. And Dora says she fears that number will grow as more and more laws are passed which restrict the areas offenders’ can live.
“They are being pushed out to the rural areas where there aren’t as many specialized officers to watch them,” she said. “Where would you rather have them—at home where the police can monitor their activities or out on the street where no one knows where they are or what they are doing?”
Dora says that with new laws in place that don’t allow convicted sex offenders to live within a 2000 foot radius of a school, park, playground or licensed child care facility, there is nowhere in Oklahoma City that sex offenders can live, forcing them to live on the street or seek shelter in rural communities, such as Mustang and Union City where officers with specialized training are scarce.
Mustang Police Captain Willard James said under the new state law, the 2000-foot restriction extremely limits the area a sex offender can live in the city
“It is feasible that a sex offender could move here, but they would be extremely limited to the outskirts of the city,” he said.
New legislation Governor Brad Henry recently signed into law, allows second time convicted sex offenders to be eligible for the death penalty. But instead of protecting children, Dora predicts the law will have the opposite effect as offenders may not be willing to take a chance that their victims could talk.
“This policy is going to kill more kids than it helps,” she said.
Education is key to people understanding these crimes, Dora said. When people learn a sex offender is moving into their neighborhood many times there is a kind of panic that she says can be avoided if people will take time to get the facts.
“There is more to the story and people need to find out. Talk to their parole officer,” she said.
Another thing Dora says the public should keep in mind is that many of the offenders have innocent family members who suffer when emotions run high. Some of the anxiety about sex offenders can be laid to rest if people will learn the facts.
“The term sex offender is not a horrific predatorial term,” she said. “It’s a catch-all.”
Facts about sex offenders:
- Most victims know their abuser—approximately 90%
- Children are most likely to be assaulted by members of their family, followed by acquaintances
- Adults are most likely to be assaulted by a current or former husband, co-habitating partner or a date
- The majority of sex offenders are male
- Over 95% of convicted sex offenders eventually return to the community
- Lifestyle circumstances can affect the chances of new offenses
- Not all child molesters are pedophiles
Differences between pedophiles and child molesters:
Pedophiles:
- Pedophiles are attracted to children, usually under the age of 13
- Pedophiles groom, or court, vulnerable children for the purpose of victimization
- A pedophile may spend years working himself up into a position of authority and trust
- Pedophiles can have hundreds of victims throughout their lifetime
- Pedophiles have the highest reoffense rates even after incarceration or treatment
- Pedophiles are usually uncomfortable with adult intimacy and may spend their lives maneuvering to be near children
- Pedophiles may be charming and skilled at manipulating adults and may use adult relationships to gain access to children
Child Molesters:
- A child molester is described as an “individual who has committed a sexual offense against a child victim.”
- Most child molesters are primarily attracted to adults
- Child molesters are opportunistic
- Research shows that incestuous offenders have lower numbers of victims and lower rates of reoffense after they have been convicted
Facts taken from the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers website
Fears new laws are pushing offenders to rural areas
Stacy Barnes
A local woman who requested anonymity says the public needs to be educated on sex offenders. For the purpose of this story, she will be referred to as “Dora”. She and others are working to get the word out that the term “sex offender” does not apply only to child molesters, pedophiles and predators. In fact, she says, in Oklahoma, someone caught urinating in public can be convicted of indecent exposure and labeled a sex offender. Once that label is attached to a name, the person goes on the state sex offender registry and notifications are sent out to neighbors each time they move. While on parole, offenders must report to their parole officer in on a regular basis, attend treatment, submit to polygraph testing and some must wear a GPS.
Dora, who has extensive knowledge of sex offenders, says the polygraphs are a good measure of whether or not someone might reoffend.
In Oklahoma, convicted sex offenders are required to register for a period of ten years. Habitual and aggravated offenders must register for their lifetime. As of April 2006 there were 51,560 registered sex offenders in Oklahoma, with 970 delinquent offenders. And Dora says she fears that number will grow as more and more laws are passed which restrict the areas offenders’ can live.
“They are being pushed out to the rural areas where there aren’t as many specialized officers to watch them,” she said. “Where would you rather have them—at home where the police can monitor their activities or out on the street where no one knows where they are or what they are doing?”
Dora says that with new laws in place that don’t allow convicted sex offenders to live within a 2000 foot radius of a school, park, playground or licensed child care facility, there is nowhere in Oklahoma City that sex offenders can live, forcing them to live on the street or seek shelter in rural communities, such as Mustang and Union City where officers with specialized training are scarce.
Mustang Police Captain Willard James said under the new state law, the 2000-foot restriction extremely limits the area a sex offender can live in the city
“It is feasible that a sex offender could move here, but they would be extremely limited to the outskirts of the city,” he said.
New legislation Governor Brad Henry recently signed into law, allows second time convicted sex offenders to be eligible for the death penalty. But instead of protecting children, Dora predicts the law will have the opposite effect as offenders may not be willing to take a chance that their victims could talk.
“This policy is going to kill more kids than it helps,” she said.
Education is key to people understanding these crimes, Dora said. When people learn a sex offender is moving into their neighborhood many times there is a kind of panic that she says can be avoided if people will take time to get the facts.
“There is more to the story and people need to find out. Talk to their parole officer,” she said.
Another thing Dora says the public should keep in mind is that many of the offenders have innocent family members who suffer when emotions run high. Some of the anxiety about sex offenders can be laid to rest if people will learn the facts.
“The term sex offender is not a horrific predatorial term,” she said. “It’s a catch-all.”
Facts about sex offenders:
- Most victims know their abuser—approximately 90%
- Children are most likely to be assaulted by members of their family, followed by acquaintances
- Adults are most likely to be assaulted by a current or former husband, co-habitating partner or a date
- The majority of sex offenders are male
- Over 95% of convicted sex offenders eventually return to the community
- Lifestyle circumstances can affect the chances of new offenses
- Not all child molesters are pedophiles
Differences between pedophiles and child molesters:
Pedophiles:
- Pedophiles are attracted to children, usually under the age of 13
- Pedophiles groom, or court, vulnerable children for the purpose of victimization
- A pedophile may spend years working himself up into a position of authority and trust
- Pedophiles can have hundreds of victims throughout their lifetime
- Pedophiles have the highest reoffense rates even after incarceration or treatment
- Pedophiles are usually uncomfortable with adult intimacy and may spend their lives maneuvering to be near children
- Pedophiles may be charming and skilled at manipulating adults and may use adult relationships to gain access to children
Child Molesters:
- A child molester is described as an “individual who has committed a sexual offense against a child victim.”
- Most child molesters are primarily attracted to adults
- Child molesters are opportunistic
- Research shows that incestuous offenders have lower numbers of victims and lower rates of reoffense after they have been convicted
Facts taken from the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers website
1 comments
The headline of this article seems wrong. By definition child molesters are pedophiles, otherwise they wouldn't be sexually interested in children. Perhaps the title should be "Not all sex offenders pedophiles".
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