Are sex offenders usually repeat offenders?

"No scripture agrees that man is not sinless."

When forgiven, sin no longer exists, washed in the blood, if you believe.
You think you are a failure before it happens, get rid of sin conscience.

 

This is a complex subject and so far all I've read here are generalizations. We're on the road in FL headed for meetings in TX, so I may not be able to post much but I wanted to point out some things.

First of all, you need to define what you mean by the term. The 2012 view of "sex offenders" is an extremely broad one. Even one time offenders who have simply touched a woman wrongly must be put on a "sex offender" registry for years along with rapists and child molesters, which can be very unfair. All are not the same.

I know personally three Christian men who have been branded this way. One's offense was many years ago--one touch and he went to jail for a year. The young woman went on to ensnare others. The second one is in jail for a year right now for making a video he shouldn't have and also downloading something he shouldn't have--but the plea bargain was for something he didn't do, which was selling the items. I know him well--he will not repeat. The third is an old man who had a stroke before his offenses. He had never been inappropriate in his life, but something went haywire in his brain. He's now trying to live it down, his life basically over.

So yes, depending on your definition, offenders are often one time offenders. But many offenders will be multiple offenders.

 

Regardless of the Testimony...

...we need to protect those in the body, and if you have a heads up that a person among you has ever been investigated or accused of sex crimes with children (especially) or adults, a red flag should go up, and the person should be delicately placed in jobs around the church that will lessen their opportunity to repeat their offense.

The most-recent events unfolding in LA with the two teachers at Miramonte Elementry is but one example that should serve to show why we must always trust the past of the person as an indicator of their future. Too many children have been marred for life by these two men. :type:

 

I'm no so much worried about the forum rules concerning human sexuality (which are obtuse) but more pointed towards the reality that no one here is qualified to speak on this issue and (as we have seen elsewhere) this is a highly charged discussion. Frankly I've seen few discussions this polarizing where opinions are so enflamed. (And I'm saying this is almost as polarized as the ridiculous Calvinism vs....whatever threads)

Nevertheless, I've made my opinion well known on this issue and will be done with it for a while.

 

Are sex offenders usually repeat offenders?

God may forgive, but why should society?

 

I have a rule. "I Don't Touch Anyone".

I can shake your hand..., maybe return a Christian Hug..., but never initiate in any shape, manner or form or even think about touching someone.

As JoJ provided, I know a man who lost everything as a 16 year old girl reported three years after an alleged incident (when she was 13) of inappropriate touching while in a swimming pool. Give me a break!

 

The simple answer to your question, which most believe to be true, is yes. Unfortunately that simple answer doesn't really answer the question.

First, being a sex offender covers many levels, from the 18 year old boy who has sex with his 17 1/2 year old girlfriend and her mother objects and has him sent to prison as a rapist, to the middle aged man who views kiddie porn on his computer, to the men who troll the teen chat rooms and lure girls to motels, to the peeping tom, to the flasher....and on and on.

So CAN they be trusted again? Some, yes. Not all. I don't believe that old man who enjoys walking through Central Park and gets his kicks out of flashing everyone will ever change. Will that 18 year old boy ever reoffend? Highly, Highly unlikely. However, that 18 year old boy doesn't meet the true definition of a sexual predator.

In churches, however, we must be ABOVE circumspect. We can take absolutely NO risk by allowing a convicted sex offender to have anything to do with children. They can never be a teacher, leader, or worker with children. Should they attend our churches? Absolutely.

Truth is, if we eliminated all men from the church who have lust in their hearts the church would be sans men. (and before someone jumps on me for saying men....women can lust too)

 

That narrows the subject down considerably. I would immediately set up an appointment with the man. If I saw no repentance or openness to counseling, I would inform him he is not welcome back. Chances are very strong that he will repeat and give the church a world of hurt as well as his family.

 

American society appears to forgive murderers, drug offenders and many other terrible sins. But sex offenders are the only ones put on a special list for all to see, a further punishment. Tell you what, if we're going to make such lists, I'd really like to know if a convicted murderer or carjacker or armed robber is living next to me, because they let those guys go free all the time.

Folks, the American legal system is all messed up. This problem is only part of the whole.

 

That is the ONLY ope that any sinner has, woulod be found in a saving relationship with jesus. and empowered by the HS...

A person with this sin area though MUST have accountible partners, mature christians around them, be able to be part of the local church, but must be regulated to have no exposure to children without strict restrictions in place!

 

didn't the Lord forgive and use Apostle paul, chief of sinners, accuser of bethren and set up man to have many killed?

 

the Lord fully forgives through His grace those redeemed by Himself, does wash and cleanse them, but also have the aspect of having to make sure these saints are 'well regulated!"

Might make sense that they would be set apart in their own community seperated from general public!

 

And this is why rape was punishable by death in the OT. I'm not saying we should go back to OT Law, but merely pointing out the severity of the crime according to God.

If you've ever been a victim of sexual abuse or have a child that was abused, you will have a very different view of allowing the perpetrator into your church.

As I said before, God forgives, but there are earthly consequences for these actions. Just look at the life of King David to see that.

 

For the person who said that the posts on here were all subjective opinions, I provided a link to a study that is based in fact and observation. Please take the time to read it.

I'll also add that my experience as a victim, as someone who worked with offenders, as someone who is now working with kids who have been through it and dealing with keeping them safe and and in the process of dealing with three separate offenders, I do feel as if my statements are more than just conjecture. They come from experience and while they may not be professional, they still carry some weight and even if that isn't accepted, why would you believe that the information in the link, by our own country which has studied and observed and has access to the information and is studying this on something about as unbiased as it can get in order to try to understand how to handle offenders, would not be a great source of information? If you can't accept THAT as a valid source, there can't possibly be any other source out there that one would view as acceptable, so that means you'd have to go back to just viewing your own opinion as the only valid one, which totally negates your own argument. There's no logic in that.

 

I don't think simple forgiveness is the question here. And I don't think Paul excused his crimes like the case mentioned here, meaning this man has not repented.