Absence of Appropriate Punishment - Research Paper Example

Inserts His/her Inserts Inserts Grade (02, 07, Pedophilia Introduction There certain crimes that are so morally demeaning that just by hearing their names an immediate frown comes on our faces. These crimes are so disgusting that sane people fail to understand why people commit such crimes. Lack of understanding actually promotes such crimes because people are not made aware of the problems associated with it. Pedophilia is one of such crime. Pedophilia is a mental disorder in which a person is sexually attracted towards young children (below 13 or 14). Pedophile is sexually attracted not towards opposite sex people but towards young children. Pedophiles abuse children in order to satisfy their sexual desires. This is why they pose a threat to the society. Pedophilia is considered as a mental disorder according to the International Classification of Diseases (WHO, 2007). Treatment of this disease is not known today. In this essay we will argue why a crimes like pedophilia are still persistent in our society. Absence of Appropriate Punishment Appropriate punishment can hinder any crime. It is in human nature to give in to emotional desires and only threat of punishment can stop criminals from committing any kind of crime. It is very hard for human beings to control his or her impulses therefore law and order and its enforcement is important in order to maintain the balance of the society. This balance will be only be maintained if appropriate punishment will be given to the criminals in accordance with the crimes they commit. Treatment of pedophiles in the justice system is not appropriate and that is why pedophilia is still persistent in our society today. Perpetuators of sexual abuse on children are not punished severely by the criminal system due to many reasons. Mostly children are not able to explain what has happened to them and that is why pedophiles are not identified. Children are not aware of their rights and mostly do not understand what has happened to them. Their innocence is exploited by pedophiles and they carry on their crimes without getting punished. Immature minds of children force them to accept everything. They have an internal system of rationalization and they take all the things happening to them as normal. When sexually abused children feel that this is too part of life and therefore are not likely to report such incidents. This is a big hindrance in the punishment of pedophiles. They take advantage of this and continue their crimes. Also in the justice system there are certain loop holes and pedophiles exploit them to avoid punishments for their crimes. Children can usually not recount what has happened to them and are mostly not able to testify in courts. This is why pedophiles go free and are not convicted in court. It is also hard to prove sexual abuse on children because abuse is different from that on adults. Sexual intercourse usually doesn’t happen with children and pedophiles use different ways to satisfy and pleasure themselves. This is why it is hard to prove sexual abuse on children due to lack of DNA evidence. When sexual intercourse happen DNA tests can easily prove that but this is usually not the case with children. This is another problem in the legal system which is exploited by pedophiles. Also laws made for the sex offenders are based on emotions and do not focus strategically on the eradication of the crime itself (Lynch, M. 2006). This is another reason why punishment received by pedophiles is not enough. The nature of the crime committed by pedophiles is different from other crimes. First of all it is important to understand that pedophilia is a mental disorder. It is not a crime like murder or theft where criminal is committing the crime at his or her own discretion. In the case of pedophilia criminal should be treated as a patient. He is doing the crime because he is mentally sick. This difference should be taken into account before sentencing a pedophile. The sentence of a pedophile should be longer than that of other crimes because it is important to create a strong fear in his or her mind regarding the act itself. Only then he or she can be forced to stop committing such hideous acts. They require special treatment by law which is not given. They should be treated so severely that in future they do not think about abusing children sexually. This does not happen and because of this pedophilia is still persistent in the society even after so much social development. Pedophiles also destroy the future of victims. It is very hard for children to forget what has happened to them. Sexual abuse haunts victims all their lives and many are not able to recover from the incident. It is the feeling of helplessness, of not able to do anything that does most of the damage. It suppresses the whole personality of a child and at an early age what is impression on the minds of children remains imprinted all their lives. For this reason punishment of pedophiles should be greater than any other crime. They should not be allowed to leave prison until it is sure that they cannot hurt any more children. If this is sure only then pedophiles should be allowed to live in the society freely. Rehabilitation of Pedophiles in the Society Pedophiles are actually welcomed back in the society. People give them chance to connect with the world even after their crimes and think that they will change. This is also a way in which society functions. Rehabilitation is required for people who want to change and have committed mistakes in the past. These people cannot be left alone because it is feared that they will fall in the same pits of crime. In order to avoid it people try to connect to the perpetuators of crimes and try to change them after their punishment. It is very important to understand that the case of pedophiles is very different. They are not normal criminals. They are sick individuals who need treatment. They cannot just choose not to be pedophiles. They cannot control their urges to commit sexual abuse towards children. They can only hide it from the general public and this why their rehabilitation causes problems. They actually find a way, after they have been accepted back in the society, to hurt children in a more subtle manner. The welcoming back of pedophiles in the society is not something desirable. It may sound absurd but actually it is true. They should be kept very far from children and only then children can be protected from them. The only way to stop them is to treat them like a criminal for the rest of their lives. When they will not interact with anyone openly in the society there is less chance that they will find children with whom they can carry on their dirty work with. The stopping of pedophiles from taking part in events of society can save many children and this should be practiced by everyone in the society if we are to fight this crime and disease in a more apt manner. Another problem that arises from inclusion of pedophiles in the society is that they mingle into the society. They become friends with people and after sometime people forget their previous crimes. This allows them to mingle in the neighborhood and make new friends. And after sometime when they have gained the trust of their friends they revert to their previous mal practice. It is important to understand that a pedophile cannot be treated. He will always want to sexually abuse children and therefore including him in our social circle is always a mistake. He is not choosing to become a pedophile he is by nature due to his sickness. It is only through flushing the pedophile out from the society that we can stop his criminal activity and protect children. There is already lack of research when it comes to pedophiles and what can trigger such behavior (Laws & O’Donhue, 2008). Treatment of the disease is still unknown. In a situation like this the only way to protect children is by keeping the pedophiles away from them. Society should not allow pedophile among them even after they have received their punishment because punishment cannot change them. Rules should be made to keep pedophiles away from the children because children cannot protect themselves nor they are fully aware of their rights (Eden, D. 2009). The only way to stop pedophiles from hurting the society and children is therefore to make sure that they are kept at a considerable distance from the children and are taken back into the society. Treatment of Victims of Sex Abuse It is also important to treat children who have been victims of sexual abuse at an early age. Children are immature and we can impression anything on their minds at an early age. It is impossible for a victim of pedophilia to live a normal life. Bad memories always haunt sexual abuse victims. Another reason why children should be treated after being sexually abused is that victims can actually turn into pedophiles in future (Carroll, J. 2009). This is a very dangerous finding and can start a new wave of pedophiles in future generations. If this remains the case them society will never be able to fight this disease off anytime soon in near future. The only way to stop this from happening is to providing therapy for the victims that can stop them from becoming a pedophile. A disease like pedophilia should be stopped from affecting the mind of children at an early age. Mostly victims of pedophilia think that this is normal and rationalize the ill treatment through which they are going. In the process of rationalization they tell themselves that this is normal. This thinking sometimes persists in their minds even when they grow up and then they themselves become pedophiles. It is therefore very important that victims of pedophilia are treated immediately after their sexual abuse. They should be told that what has happened to them was not correct and this is wrong. The problem with the society is that pedophilia is considered a taboo and we try to avert this subject. Children are not informed about it and this restricts them from saving themselves from the abuse. Education about the crime should be given to children so that they can stop the crime from ever happening. Children will be better prepared for any such event and they will immediately inform their parents or other members of the society about the ill treatment they are facing. Education about pedophilia can also allow the victims as well as other to stop becoming a pedophile. If every child is educated about the disease and told that pedophilia is a crime then there is a better chance that in future he or she will not become a pedophile himself. The spontaneous recovery of children after being sexually abused is high but it is important to provide them with a support system (Beutler, Williams & Zetzer, 1994). Education alongside with treatment can help victims of pedophilia and stop them from becoming a pedophile in future as well. Conclusion Pedophilia is a disease and a crime that is disgusting and shameful. Today we have developed so much but still we are haunted by just hideous crimes. Children who are victims of pedophilia are faced with tremendous trauma throughout their lives. There are many reasons why pedophilia is still persistent even in this developed world of ours. Pedophiles are not given appropriate punishment and therefore they come out of jails and revert back to their old practices. Absence of fear of punishment motivates them to conduct such criminal acts. Also they are welcomes back into the society which is not a good practice. Moreover pedophilia victims should be treated with care so that they do not become pedophiles in future as well. Works Cited Page Beutler, Williams & Zetzer. Efficacy of Treatment for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse, The Future of Children Vol. 4, No. 2, Sexual Abuse of Children (1994), pp. 156-175 Carroll, J. Sexuality Now: Embracing Diversity. New York: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print. Eden, D. Crimes against Children, View Zone Website, 2009. Web. http://viewzone2.com/pedocrimex.html Laws & O'Donohue. Sexual deviance: theory, assessment, and treatment. London: Guildford Press, 2008. Print Lynch, Mona. Pedophiles and Cyber-predators as Contaminating Forces: The Language of Disgust, Pollution, and Boundary Invasions in Federal Debates on Sex Offender Legislation. Law & Social Inquiry, 2002, pp. 529–557 Mental and behavioral disorders. World Health Organization, 2007. Web. http://apps.who.int/classifications/apps/icd/icd10online/index.htm?gf60.htm+F654 Outline Introduction Pedophilia is a mental disorder in which a person is sexually attracted towards young children (below 13 or 14). Pedophile is sexually attracted not towards opposite sex people but towards young children. Pedophiles abuse children in order to satisfy their sexual desires Absence of appropriate Punishment Treatment of pedophiles in the justice system is not appropriate and that is why pedophilia is still persistent in our society today Rehabilitation of Pedophiles in the Society The welcoming back of pedophiles in the society is not something desirable. It may sound absurd but actually it is true. They should be kept very far from children and only then children can be protected from them. The only way to stop them is to treat them like a criminal for the rest of their lives. Treatment of Victims of Sex Abuse Another reason why children should be treated after being sexually abused is that victims can actually turn into pedophiles in future (Carroll, J. 2009). This is a very dangerous finding and can start a new wave of pedophiles in future generations. If this remains the case them society will never be able to fight this disease off anytime soon in near future Conclusion Pedophiles are not given appropriate punishment and therefore they come out of jails and revert back to their old practices. Absence of fear of punishment motivates them to conduct such criminal acts. Also they are welcomes back into the society which is not a good practice. Moreover pedophilia victims should be treated with care so that they do not become pedophiles in future as well Read More