Should Colorado still use the term “sex offender”? A state board is considering new language.
Seeking to move away from labels that can work against a person’s rehabilitation, Colorado’s Sex Offender Management Board plans to vote Friday to replace the term “sex offender” in its own guiding principles.
The board is considering several new terms, including clients, adults or individuals “who commit sexual offenses,” “who engage in sexually abusive behavior,” who are “in treatment for engaging in sexually abusive behaviors” or “who have committed sexual offenses.”
The board, which governs the standards for treatment of people convicted of sex offenses, is far from united on the issue of “person-first language” in this context. Members split 8-7 in the spring on a vote to adopt new guiding principles concerning language. Friday’s expected vote would finish off that process.
“I think the biggest thing is research really shows us that assigning a label has the potential for negative effects in rehabilitation,” said Kimberly Kline, a licensed counselor and chair of the board.
I am willing to be Colorado will be the first state to adopt the new model penal code reforms on the sex Offender Registry.
Kline has heard the criticism, from prosecutors and others, that it’s unfair to victims of sex offenses to call their perpetrators something other than “sex offender.”
Soooo… peeing in public has a “victim”? Two people caught getting in on in the backseat has a “victim”? I suppose a college grad mooning out the car window as they are driven off after graduation has multiple “victims”, eh? Because no one’s ever seen someone else’s ass in a locker room before. These are also your “sex offenders”, you idiots.
I believe that victims of sex crimes don’t have any particular rights, or even represent an interest group regarding registration. They received their retribution, fairness and justice in the criminal punishment phase. The registry is ostensibly intended to increase future public safety, not to continue punishment for prior crimes. (BTW, I don’t believe the registry contributes to public safety.)
Victims had their say at sentencing, whether or not they agree that the punishment was adequate. Court-ordered retribution for a criminal offense is appropriate. Continuing to extract revenge through the registry is not.
For the same reason, I don’t believe the district attorney has a stake in registry regulations either. They get their pound of flesh and promotion points through the courts.
Veritas.
As a former victim of sex abuse, and now a Registered Citizen, I have mixed feelings on “victim’s rights.” Because the system is flawed by failing to bridge gaps between people who commit crimes against others and the people directly affected by those crimes, often the latter will eventually become the former.
While I can relate to your feelings as to how people affected by crimes committed have the opportunity to “[continue] to extract revenge through the registry,” these people have been irrevocably affected and our system hasn’t afforded them the chance to heal and grow. If the system figured out how to close the gap, to allow reformed people to make amends and provide a safe avenue for both parties to express themselves in a safe environment, there would be less incidences of “revenge.”
To come full circle to the original topic, changing terminology will not change the damage any label brings. Simply, if FL changed the phrasing from SO to RC, the public will transfer the same connotations it gave to SO to RC.
LeeLee, you have my sympathies for your victimization, and I agree with you. What you have described is very much like the restorative justice movement. That emphasizes resolution of injustices and healing for both the victim and the offender. I wish you the best.
Two ideas
#1 Ex-Offenders
#2 Maybe let us move on with NO labels ? (We are not our past)
I’m in Colorado so while this certainly is a “feel good” thing they are doing it gives me really great pause. If being a PFR, or “Sex Offender” is such a negative connotation, how is it not equally considered punishment? If it isn’t punishment, then the label is irrelevant.
To me this is just window dressing on trying to make it look like the registry isn’t punitive and they are doing something about it.
So we can fire all the attorneys now on get on with our lives with this new and improved label? (Much sarcasm implied)
Call it a mule or a donkey, they are closely related.
I prefer to call it a jackass.
There is a virtual meeting, and supposedly will include public imput.
You’ll have to RSVP here:
See also: https://dcj.colorado.gov/…/domestic…/somb/somb-meetings
or email adrienne.corday@state.co.us
With the tagline “RSVP for SOMB Meeting”
I wish that I could see this as a positive move. Forward progress would be great, but the replacement language doesn’t “move the chains”. It’s still potatoes and potatoes.
Not every play may move the chains, but third and short is easier that third and long.
Very true, and to paraphrase George Carlin, we’ll have to use a sustained ground attack to punch holes in the opposition forward line.
Amen Derek! Let me ask a simple question folks, Has the Florida SOMB held such a meeting with the opportunity for anybody to speak? Or any other state?
There is no Florida SOMB 🙁
IMO. That’s exactly what Vicki is saying.
HAHA
Sorry but I had never heard of SOMB. If someone texted me that I would think they were cussing me out 🙂
I looked it up and I guess our FDLE here is the equivalent Although they also do other law enforcement duties in the state