5-14-2010 Colorado:
Bill headed to governor would let sex offenders choose treatment program
A compromise was reached over a controversial bill that would allow sex offenders to choose the court-ordered treatment program they wish to attend, sending the bill to the governor on the last day of the legislative session.
The intent of House Bill 1364, sponsored by Rep. Sue Ryden, D-Aurora, is to extend the state’s Sex Offender Management Board. But an amendment would allow sex offenders the right to select which court-ordered treatment program they attend.
Critics say offenders will only choose the program that is the most lenient.
The House on Tuesday rejected the Senate amendment, requesting a conference committee, which met yesterday.
Lawmakers believe they reached a fair compromise yesterday. Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, who participated in the conference committee and is chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said the compromise involves allowing sex offenders to choose the treatment program, but from a much smaller list put together by the offender’s parole or probation officer. The list would include three options chosen by the offender’s supervising agency.
“I think the compromise we struck recognizes that offenders do need some choices because the program’s components, or the style of the program, or the mission of the program may not necessarily suit them,” said Levy. “So, the way we struck the balance is that the supervising agency … is going to present them with a choice, with a list of options, and so they don’t just get to go through the (entire) list and pick and choose.”
Opponents don’t believe the compromise truly strikes a fair balance. They believe presenting sex offenders with a choice of any kind will result in them choosing the most lenient of treatment programs.
“The sex offender will choose the program that holds him the least accountable,” said Greig Veeder, executive director of Denver-based Teaching Humane Existence, an organization dedicated to developing strategies to control and treat sex offenders. “It will pressure treatment programs to cater to repeat adult sex offenders who have no inclination to change their behavior.”
Veeder points out that the majority of sex offenders are repeat offenders who have been committing sex crimes for an average of 16 years. Sixty-percent of convicted adult sex offenders receive probation instead of going to prison.
“It is absurd to give the sex offender a court order for treatment that he does not want to follow in the first place, and then ask him to decide where he wants to go to get this court order filled,” said Fred Tolson, managing partner of Denver-based Sexual Offense Resource Services.
Critics also objected to an amendment of the legislation that would remove language that “no known cure” exists for repeat sex offenders who commit sex abuse.
“The simple fact is if the House bill removes the three words ‘no known cure’ it diminishes the strength of our ability to treat, manage and contain convicted, adult repeat sex offenders,” said Veeder. ..Source.. Peter Marcus, DDN Staff Writer
May 14, 2010
Lawmakers back choices for sex offenders
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2 comments:
Sex offenders who wish not to repeat their crimes will choose a program that best suits that desire.
You can tell who is serious about changing by the way they treat their program.
You will find (IF YOU LOOK) that there are many sex offenders who have not committed another crime since their release not only from therapy, but probation/parole as well.
Sex offenders who are serious about change DON'T continue to commit crimes. Especially sex crimes!!
This Greig Veeder is a dangerous man. He has been advocating for his own private sex offender roach motel (check in, never check out) for over a decade now. The polygraphers who support him in the comments are also in on the 'just us few, rare magical ones' scam.
Colorado has a reputation for it's insane sex offender treatments.
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