To Catch a Predator III: Dateline's investigation into computer sex predators

MSNBC ^ | March 26, 2006 | Chris Hansen

[summer]

You're welcome, GG. :)

[TChris]

I think Dr. Berlin had a good point though, after reading his full interview: Why can't we work on finding a way to treat these deviants before they victimize my daughter? Keep catching and punishing the ones who victimize children, absolutely. But without any treatment options, the best we can hope for is that we'll catch the guy after his first victim. Why accept that there has to be a first victim? Dr. Berlin has conclusively proven that some of them can be treated, that many of them want to be treated, and that doing so would prevent many children from ever becoming some sick man's first victim.

[summer]

Hey, I am all for preventing these kind of people from ever doing any harm.

It was very disturbing to see how many of them were married, and with children of their own. Yes, these people are BOTH sick AND bad. I don't know how you successfully treat them, and some people think they can't be treated. I don't know.

But, again, whatever it takes to stop them from harming kids. If they can be treated, great; but, if not, then, something else has to happen before they can harm again.

[summer]

But, you know -- you have to ask yourself: What would compel an adult to ever go online and talk to a strange "kid" in a chatroom anyway? In the beginning, I wanted to think: well, maybe these are adults looking for sex online, and they made a "mistake." But, there's a photo, right there, of the kid. The kid is saying in the chat she is 12 years old. At that point, a person making a mistake should say GOOD BYE. But, these adults persist. It was so disturbing to see that. How they go on and on with these perverse plan to molest a child. There is no mistaking their intent when they repeatedly take actions to carry out that plan -- against a child. Very disturbing.

[TChris]

What would compel an adult to ever go online and talk to a strange "kid" in a chatroom anyway?

Who knows? I don't find the idea of smoking attractive either, but it is to some people.

I think Dr. Berlin's point is that there are treatment options for nearly everything under the sun except sexual deviance. If one of these guys recognizes that he's messed up in his thinking that way, realizes he's hooked and can't stop himself and wants professional treatment to stop him from going further, society doesn't have much sympathy nor help available for him.

We should try to have something available in the way of treatment for those who could be treated and stopped before they act on those twisted impluses.

[TChris]

... before they act on those twisted impluses.

err... make that impulses.

[summer]

I thought he said on the show he does treat some people. So, apparently there is some kind of treatment out there, though I don't know what.

[TXnMA]

We should try to have something available in the way of treatment for those who could be treated and stopped before they act on those twisted impluses.

Your bleeding heart is fantasizing. One of the few proven treatments for these beasts is 115 grains of Pb/Cu -- administered intracranially. Highly recommended!

[TChris]

I thought he said on the show he does treat some people. So, apparently there is some kind of treatment out there, though I don't know what.

Yes, if you read his entire interview, which is linked from the original article, you'll find that he has had very good success. That's why he's concerned about the way sexual offenses are currently viewed in the USA. Some respond to treatment very well, others not at all, and many variations in between. He compares it to treatment of alcoholism or drug addiction.

If there is effective treatment for those who start -- and I don't mean that they have already started abusing children, but started thinking that way -- down this path, why not prevent them from becoming monsters, instead of locking them up or killing them -- as some here strongly support -- after they become monsters?

I'm sure there are many FReepers who would support teaching Christianity to Muslims who might eventually become terrorists in order to prevent that outcome. Why not use the same concept of prevention with potential sexual offenders?

[TChris]

Your bleeding heart is fantasizing. One of the few proven treatments for these beasts is 115 grains of Pb/Cu -- administered intracranially. Highly recommended!

While I understand your sentiment, if you read the interview with Dr. Berlin, you'll find that it is not a fantasy. He does treat potential offenders, with varying degrees of success. Just like with alcoholism or other addictive behaviors, some can be treated and others cannot. He talks about those who continue treatment and even take medications without being required to.

He also points out that sexual offenders actually have a lower rate of re-offense than other criminals. This is confirmed by a study.

You can choose to take the "shoot 'em all" approach, or you could consider the option of treating some of these guys before they get ahold of their first victim. Why not prevent the abuse rather than punish it?

[summer]

He also points out that sexual offenders actually have a lower rate of re-offense than other criminals

I don't know if the DA on that show last night would buy that claim, even with research backing it up. She said some of these people are out there doing this all over again within an hour after being released.

[summer]

BTW, I am sympathetic to the rage you feel against these people. The bottom line is that no more children should ever have to suffer this. If treatment can stop if before it starts, great; but, once they start doing this, I think they have a crossed a line they could forever cross again. And it's such a heinous crime. I've heard that even other inmates in prison hate child molesters.

[TChris]

She said some of these people are out there doing this all over again within an hour after being released.

Some, yes. Dr. Berlin readily agrees with that. And those who do abuse children should be dealt with quickly and harshly, especially the repeaters. But the perception is that most, if not all will do it again. The study shows that many do not.

Should all of them be punished the same? Do we treat any other crime that way? Even murder is divided into different degrees, but sexual crimes don't seem to merit that consideration.

[bigdcaldavis]

Did SpecialGuy29 ever get arrested?

[bigdcaldavis]

Remember the one with SpecialGuy29? One of the pervs was a frickin' rabbi!

[summer]

Even murder is divided into different degrees, but sexual crimes don't seem to merit that consideration.

I'll tell you the truth, I don't know how different degrees of child molestation could be developed beyond how many times a person was caught in the act or about to committ the act. It seems to require a lot of planning and such heinous intent. It is not the accidental brushing of a child's arm next to you on line in the supermarket or patting a kid on the back in the school classroom that I am talking about, none of which constitutes anything; these perverts caught on Dateline really had their sicko plan of action down. How many different degrees can you have when everything is pre-mediatated and planned out like they did in such explicit ways evidencing intent?

[summer]

He was a rabbi??? I think I missed that one!

[Dinsdale]

Good for the reporters and the police.

But lets give a little credit to the Internet. These F@$@s were no doubt just waiting for an opportunity to molest. The net caught at least some of them before they acted out their fantasies. They were always walking hazards.

40 years ago they would have been much more careful. The same perceived anonymity that leads to, shall we say, uncivil discourse on FR led these pervs right to the police.

[Smokin' Joe]

I don't find the idea of smoking attractive either, but it is to some people.

You are equating smoking with child predation/molestation????

I can't say what I think of that analogy without getting banned.

Seeeesh! No wonder things are so f'd up.

[Smokin' Joe]

And those who do abuse children should be dealt with quickly and harshly, especially the repeaters.

One of the inexcusable problems with our justice system is that there are repeat offenders. There should be none. They should not ever have the opportunity.