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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
“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.