Colorado board reverses controversial change to “sex offender” label
Under pressure from the governor and the state’s public safety director, Colorado’s Sex Offender Management Board has reversed its controversial November decision to scrap the term “sex offenders” in its own guiding principles in favor of “adults who commit sexual offenses.”
The board, commonly referred to as the SOMB, voted 16-2 on Dec. 17 to “table” the language-change matter and refer it back to a subcommittee. It’s possible the board votes again to change terminology in the future, but the tabling means it’s not likely to happen anytime soon.
This decision followed a 10-6 vote by the board in November to stop using “sex offenders” in its own principles and policies. The board controls treatment standards for people convicted of sex offenses, and changing the language in this way would not have affected treatment or management policies. But it was hailed by supporters as an important step away from labels and toward “person-first” language that research shows can improve rehabilitation prospects.
“Adults who commit sexual offenses” makes it sound like those adults always commit sex offenses.
I will never refer to myself as a “sex offender” or “adult who commits sexual offenses.” Like yall said, it implies an ongoing action. I don’t like any of this registry crap, but IF I was asked if I’m on a registry, I’d say, “I’m forced to register, as required by my state.” Whether they ask to clarify if it’s the bullshit SOR or something normal civilians do on their free will is up to them. *and Big pluses if they DO call it (appropriately) BS.
What’s the point of a board if their egos are more fragile than a twig? My problem with the term sex offender or sexual predator makes it sound like the person is still committing crime, victim remains a victim, and dehumanize people. Our country is filled with more spineless cowards than true freedom loving patriots.
Boots, biscuits and tu@d polishing.
I am a Colorado sex offender, a registered person, label dejour The SOMB was up for sunset this year and barely survived. I posted earlier about polishing a tu@d and things not changing until men and women with back bone be more concerned about the real change and less about re-election. Apparently our Gov., and head “security chief” were not happy with the shine on the tu@d and had the SOMB break out the saddle soap and re-do the tu@d. They liked it just the way it was.
I was angered at all of the handwringing and gyrations on a name change. More time and effort was spent by the SOMb trying to change the language than effect real change by changing the recommendations on the law. It angered me because they were trying to salve their conscious over the term “sex offender”. I call BS on that. The SOMB here is made up of people who have no motivation to make real change in the treatment or the law. Look at the back ground of the board members. There is more than enough case study evidence and history out there if they were truly interested in real change and management they could offer sincere advice. Originally from Texas, I am calling on an old saying. “Just because you put yer boots in the oven, it don’t make ‘em biscuits” change the law and the language will sort itself out. In the meantime, Colorado is going to keep burning boots and need to order way more tu@d polish.
By the way, it is an election year so with the abundance of BS sure to increase, it no doubt will move tu@d polishing to an art form.
Are we really censoring the word “turd” here? I’m sure FAC has published worse language. If the SOMB isn’t worried about language then why should we do the same?
The article is already misleading. No anti-registry advocate group I follow has endorsed the term “adults who commit sex offenses.” All have in fact opposed the term as grossly inaccurate, as shown by the actual recidivism rates. Many (myself included) found it more offensive than “sex offender.” As far as I can tell, no one supported the language change, albeit for different reasons.
And the loud-and-proud victim quoted in the article complaining about registrants being “coddled” is simply absurd.
This terminology still doesn’t address the problem. It is still incorrect And insinuates they are still performing sex offenses.
Since many on the registry are not adults and many were falsely convicted. It would be more accurate for the label the be “Those who have been convicted of a sexual offense .”
Why is this so hard for them to understand?
All they succeeded in doing is politicize more of the doctor-client aspect of rehabilitation by bowing to the malice of victims who have clearly never moved past their trauma. No amount of additional shaming or unconstitutional added punishment will bring closure for them, and their actions prove it. Rather it has simply set the concrete on their cold and vengeful hearts. It’s a shame that their actions will hurt them far more than it will hurt us.
No matter what they say, I will always retain my dignity because I look to one who is much higher for my significance than the small opinions of those like Kimberly Corban and Jared Polis.
Here is what I wrote as a letter to the editor to the Denver Post. I doubt they’ll publish it, though.
Eliminate “Stakeholders” the the Colorado SOMB
The Colorado Sex Offender Management Board has backpeddled on changing the insulting and demeaning term “sex offender” after public and governmental pressure. While I am not surprised, I am appalled at the structure and decision-making policies of the SOMB.
Referring to SOMB board members as “stakeholders” is creepy. We are discussing human beings, not commodities and stocks. Stakeholders invest in businesses that increase customers and generate profit.
A third of the SOMB board members are victim advocates and criminal justice representatives like prosecutors, corrections officials, and polygraphers, i.e., those who have a vested financial interest in keeping this dubious government bureaucracy in business. Unsurprisingly, these victim advocates and government officials vehemently opposed to the label proposal while admitting that the label is a part of the punishment. I thought the SOMB was about treatment, not punishment!
The Colorado SOMB is in serious need of reform. It makes no sense to have a treatment board in which at least a third of the SOMB are not treatment providers. There should be no positions held by victim advocates, prosecutors, corrections officials, polygraphers, or r anyone who has not a mental health or clinical specialist.
Furthermore, there needs to be client representation on the SOMB to provide a voice of reason to this political bureaucracy. Until these changes are made, the SOMB will continue to be nothing more than a tool for those whose only goal is to profit from the dehumanization and misery the SOMB currently provides.
Mr D,
Crime is Commerce!
-SeasonED Greetings To All!-
If they will complain about this, these people will complain no matter what just to pander for votes and charitable contributions. Who in their right mind thinks “Adults Who Commit Sexual Offenses” is somehow coddling to registrants and an improvement on “Sex Offenders”. Neither is grammatically correct, both are demeaning, and neither term does a damn thing to reduce the crimes or recidivism.
Why was Val’s comment removed?
It was not. It’s there. “Val Parkworst” is the internet troll that stalks Derek Logue. We let a post through once in a while to keep things entertaining and to remind ourselves that we’re still popular.
FAC #3
My mistake I saw it before I posted my comment and then scrolled down it was there. I thought she died and never realized how many fans Derek has trolling him.
Val Parkhurst is dead. “Val Parkworst” is not this guy’s real name.
“Adults who commit sexual offenses”.
would that include members of the board and majority of society? Great now I’m thinking way outside of the box.
https://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/dvomb/SOMB/Research/ethicsconflictinterest.pdf
Please post this. The Colorado SOMB is exempt from typical rules of ethics in relation to conflits of interest according to this audit.
Colorado Springs Gazette:
https://gazette.com/premium/editorial-say-it-out-loud-in-colorado-sex-offender/article_48e07fce-6454-11ec-86ca-57d4b17574f6.amp.html
Adults who commit sex offenses. What about the Minor’s who commit sex offenses? Notice it’s labeled adults! Very derogatory no matter how you spin it.