Should we be doing more to rehabilitate paedophiles?

There are few groups of people more widely reviled than child sex offenders. Otherwise moderate human beings openly advocate bringing back capital punishment or forced castration for this category of sexual deviants. Murderers, serial rapists and even terrorists are received with more sympathy. Let's be clear: sexually abusing children is a terrible crime and should be punished accordingly. But what happens when people have served their sentences? Can they go on to live normal lives? And what about people who are worried that they might be sexually interested in children - as explored in Channel 4 documentary, The Paedophile Next Door? Where can they get help before they act on their impulses?

As it stands, the subject is so taboo that there's very little sympathy or support - political, social or in the media - for child sex offenders and paedophiles. But many experts - including the NSPPC [NSPCC?] - believe that child safety would be improved if more was done to try and rehabilitate child sex offenders. "Social isolation and loneliness make people more likely to offend," explains Findlater. Findlater heads up the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, which is dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse. It offers the UK's only helpline for people concerned that they are having sexual thoughts about children.

source: Article 'Should we be doing more to rehabilitate paedophiles?' by Olivia Solon; www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/should-doing-more-rehabilitate-paedophiles-4694401; Mirror Online; 25 November 2014