Response Long Enough to be a Post

David wrote: "Another sad ending to what's become a WAY too typical story. As hard as I try, I'll never begin to understand where these monsters think they get the right to ruin so many lives for a few moments of self-gratification. The only conclusion I can reach is pure evil does exist and it walks among us in all shapes and forms."

As I responded, I realized that this comment fits in with previous posts that will eventually (hopefully) find a more productive venue (once fleshed out and more supported). So I decided to post it as an entry rather than a comment:

We ALL justify our moments of self-gratification to one degree or another. Mine just don't involve a compulsion that requires violence, force, and/or fear.

The sad truth is that we don't have very good luck in rehabilitative efforts with adult sexual offenders. In general, the best we can hope for is management - and that requires a commitment on the offender's part to continue with therapy even when not Court-compelled to do so, adherence to the developed safety plan (a requirement for SO cognitive reconstruction, and continued accountability (even if limited) to the Court. It may surprise you to know that most sex offenders required to register DO make that commitment, and DO manage their own behaviors with the help and support of friends, family, and qualified professionals. It may also surprise you to know that the majority of registered sex offenders are not "child molesters" in the commonly-used definition of the term.

Unfortunately, there will always be that percentage of persons with dangerous compulsions who do not make the commitment, either because they don't want to or because they just can't.

So, statistically, supervision isn't the problem OR the solution. Management isn't the problem OR the solution. Treatment isn't the problem OR the solution. Laws aren't the problem OR the solution. And every time we, as voters, enact harsher punishments and more requirements for sex offenders, we are demonstrating a knee-jerk reaction that affects ALL persons in this category despite the fact that the ones we actually FEAR are a miniscule percentage of that whole.

What IS the problem, then? And what is the solution?

Again, more to come on this. Lots more.

One and One-Half Miles...

... from my home, the lifeless body of Chelsea King (still pending official identification) was found five days after she was reported missing by her parents. San Diego County did a fantastic job of coordinating search efforts, and my wonderful little community - still so broken and sad from the still-mysterious loss of Amber Dubois a year ago - rallied with Chelsea's parents to ensure she would come home if there was any possible way that she COULD come home.

An arrest has been made and a formal complaint may be made at arraignment today. I hope so.

The County and our community was able to come together in efforts to find Chelsea so quickly because Chelsea was in the habit of doing something most kids her age (17) don't think about: checking in with her parents regularly and always advising them of where she was and with whom. Chelsea gave her parents a great gift: the knowledge that something was amiss LONG before other parents of teenagers might have suspected it.

Thank you, Chelsea. May you now rest in peace. I hope you will use your light to help those that are still lost find their way home.