by Olivia Emisar

Created on: November 17, 2009

The often cited obstacles to implement tougher sentencing guidelines and permanent supervision are lack of man power and state/city budgets. As a result, many of these abusers are within the perimeters of our neighborhoods and schools. It is amazing how many of them set up their residences within the walking path of elementary school children walking home from school and they are not violating any rules.

The safety of children needs to become the primary concern when dealing with the civil rights of offenders, unfortunately, protecting children is more expensive and time consuming that any agency funding capabilities can absorb. Society is often demanded to shoulder the burden, but with neighbors being total strangers, two income families and lack of supervision, most of our children are on their own when it comes to safely walking in their own neighborhoods.

Sentencing should fit the actual profile of the individual and when someone is referred to as a "repeat offender" society would do well to realize that the word "repeat" is there for a reason. We also need to start treating our decisions armed with the right information to avoid costly mistakes that put our most vulnerable members of society in jeopardy. We need to call it what it is and sentencing needs to be appropriate to the serious damage that is done to society by these perpetrators.

Words carry power and defense attorneys know this and that is why gentler terminology has become the norm to make these heinous acts more palatable. We need to start using the terminology that more closely reflects the crimes committed, because using the right words can carry a powerful punch that would be instrumental in securing tougher sentencing and oversight of these criminals.

Using the right terminology would clearly and decisively eliminate the misconception of softer, gentler activities. The word "molester" conjures up an image of something annoying, akin to a mosquito invading human's personal space. The word "offender" conjures up the image of someone vulgar and offensive but hardly a capital crime.

The right terminology of "Child Rapist" leaves nothing to the imagination and more accurately describes the horrific actions taken against an innocent and powerless child.

The word "Terrorist" conjures up mayhem and destruction to innocent civilians and that is exactly what a Child Rapist does. They terrorize and traumatize, their acts will live for ever in the night terrors and permanently etched

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>