The arrest of Jerry Inman yesterday here in East Tennessee (he's charged with the bikini strangling of the Clemson University student on Memorial Day weekend) seems to prove once again that sexual predators cannot be rehabilitated. I've seen statistics that say that something like 80% of violent sex offenders or child sex offenders will repeat. Mr. Inman has apparently made quite the rounds in his lifetime, leaving behind victims all over the southeastern U.S. He had previously been convicted of sex crimes in North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida. He had been in a Florida prison from 1989 until his release a few months ago. It didn't take him long to get started again, as he is charged or going to be charged with sex crimes in Tennessee and Alabama, and then it was the murder in South Carolina that finally got him busted.
So the question: Should we start handing out significantly harsher sentences for sex offenders?
My personal feeling is that quite a few of those convicted of sex crimes are wrongly accused. So I'm a little torn. However, where there is DNA evidence involved in sex crimes against a child, I firmly believe that offenders should be given a life sentence. In sex crimes against adults, it's a little more difficult because even with DNA evidence, sex could've been consensual and then the woman decide to press rape charges. It happens all the time (just ask Kobe Bryant). So I'm not sure what the answer is, but clearly men like Inman should not be allowed to get back on the street and create more havoc against society because of relatively short prison sentences.
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Sex offenders cannot be rehabilitated and I'm all for mandatory life sentences.
However, if we go that route, we need a narrower of definition of what constitutes a sex offender. Is an 18 year old who has consensual sex with his 17 year old girlfriend really a sex offender? According to laws in some states yes. Should he really be subject to life prison term? Is a dumbass college student who gets drunk and goes streaking really a sex offender? In some states, yes. Does that really warrant a life term?
In order to enact harsher sentences, we need all laws to differentiate between true predatory behavior and youthful jackassery.
VT, I agree. IMHO, statutory rape should never qualify one as a sex offender, nor should it require mandatory registration with a sex offender registry.
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We must be the change we wish to see in the world -- Ghandi
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VT, I agree. IMHO, statutory rape should never qualify one as a sex offender, nor should it require mandatory registration with a sex offender registry.
Even then it depends. If the age difference is 50 and 15, then there is a problem. 16 and 18, however, not so much.
Also, being a man still in my 20's, I came to realize that one of the most dangerous things men in my age bracket can encounter is a 16-17 year old girl on the prowl, especially one who lies about here age. Want to talk about predatory behavior. Yikes.
Aren't the harsher penalties for Jessica's Law used only when the child is 12 or under?
Rape and murder among adults will always be a problem, but the sickos that rape children(<12) are the real threats....
Sure, a 50 year old raping a 15 year old is horrible and disgusting, but it is not even in the same ballpark as raping an 8yr old......
It's a tough area for sure and like ya'll pointed out, there needs to be very specific guidelines...... Something has to be done!!
There are some sick people in this world!! Have any of you been watching the prime time specials they have been airing lately about these internet predators? Unbelievable what is going on!
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" If he smells you its over. If he gets in your wind stream its over, If he smells where you walked, he probably aint coming back... Your talking about an animal that can smell a fingerprint. Any amount over 0% is to much." Dan Infalt
Sexual predators can't be rehabilitated , even they admit it . Prove that they're guilty beyond reasonable doubt and then shoot 'em behind the courthouse .
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No, sexual predators can't be rehabilitated and should get life sentences or be executed. I agree with VT about not sentencing statutory rapists (i.e. an 18 YO with a 16 YO) to life sentences.
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If you're certain you know everything, there's little opportunity to learn anything.
So the question: Should we start handing out significantly harsher sentences for sex offenders?
Yes, we should. I've had enough of the raping, torturing, and murdering that these animals perform. I can't fathom what it must like to be a victim.
As mentioned previously, narrowing the definition of predatory behavior is necessary. We want to go after the perverts who brutalize children without the willingness or ability to stop. Lock them up and throw away the key. Hopefully Bubba will take it from there.
I also believe that adult-on-adult sex crimes should be punished more harshly. Life in prison for rape doesn't seem like too much as far as I'm concerned. One of these days we're going to realize that we simply can't allow people to violently victimize others to gratify themselves. These people are abnormal and cannot be trusted in society.
Regarding the "minor" sex crimes, such as consensual statutory rape (provided that the minor has reached the age of consent in his or her state), streaking, and indencent exposure in the course of public urination--perhaps we should consider lessening the penalties for these acts. In part to ensure that a non-predator doesn't spend the rest of his days in prison, but also to free up resources tohunt the real monsters out there.
Can sex offenders be rehabilitated?
