Myths about sex offenders

The rates of sex offenses continue to climb.

Publicity about sex crimes may be increasing, but the actual rate has decreased slightly in recent years. The arrest rate for all sexual offenses dropped 16 percent between 1993 and 1998.

We should lock sex offenders up and throw away the key.

The costs of lifetime imprisonment would soon be astronomical. Richard Packard, president of the Washington Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, says Washington state convicts an average of 1,000 felony sex offenders every year. Their average age at sentencing is 36. If they live to an average age of 70, they would be in prison 34 years. The prison costs for one year’s worth of felony sex offenders would be over $1 billion if they were all imprisoned for life.

The Special Commitment Center at McNeil Island currently houses 230 prisoners, 60 percent of them sexually violent predators and 40 percent under evaluation. The cost: $104,000 per inmate each year.

Castration is the answer.

Involuntary castration is currently illegal. If it were to become law, it might not necessarily be effective. An erection isn’t necessary for sexual abuse to take place — many sex crimes involve fondling or oral sex — and sexual gratification isn’t necessarily an offender’s only motive. Sex offenders may seek power and control over their victims as well as sexual gratification. Others might seek out artificial testosterone and readily available medications like Viagra to override the effects of surgery.

Most sex offenders were sexually abused as children themselves.

Studies show that while sexual assault may increase the likelihood of sexually aggressive behavior, most children who were abused never become sex offenders.

Sources: Center for Sex Offender Management, Washington Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, Washington Special Commitment Center.

- Jamie Tobias Neely