Paedophilia. Should Paedophiles be outed
In the last few days here in Australia The 'Human Headline' Derryn Hinch A 'shock-jock' Radio Announcer in Melbourne has come out firing again (again even though he has been Gaoled before) for contempt of court to calling for every community to be informed about where Paedophiles are living in our communities. Paedophilia or child molestation has hit the headlines here in Queensland over the last few weeks following an outcry over the releasing of a well known Paedophile into Queensland after a very lengthy gaol sentence. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problem define Paedophilia as "a sexual preference for children, boys or girls or both, usually of pre-pubertal or early pubertal age. Often the perpetrators of these crimes have been subjected themselves to molestation as a child and hence there is often a pattern of repeat behaviour into adulthood. Research indicates that often the perpetrator is known to the child as a relative or friend of the family and as such makes disclosure difficult. In fact often the victims are subjected to threats and often are guilt ridden and fail to report the abuse to either family members or authorities until long after the crimes were carried out.
One of the important issues is the moral panic which appears largely media driven into the crime of Paedophilia. Many Paedophiles are given long sentences in Gaol and are subjected often to violence and even death for the crime inside the prison walls.
In recent years in Queensland a lobby group lead by political activist Hetty Johnston has given the crime of paedophilia a dark new meaning and has caused the Queensland Government to run scared vowing to lock up serial offenders indefinitely. With this sort of atmosphere it appears that paedophilia has taken on a more heinous notion and is regarded often as more serious than Aggravated Rape or Murder even though the outcome may be less severe than either of the two offences. Often although it varies from individual to individual of how much damage is done to the victim. It is generally known that in all cases the effect is negative. For some though being molested seriously and adversly affects the rest of their lives.
It is one thing to force people into counselling which is again problematic. Especially if it does not work what we do know is that treatment into the phenomenon has to date had poor outcomes and more work is required to improve treatment quality and availability.
This is my main concern in writing this story from the available academic reports that proper treatment for the behaviour which constitutes paedophilia seems to be unavailable if so untested or given to prisoners in a theraputic setting. If we as the public demand that prisoners get long sentences proper and effective treatment should be made available.
