There are many who want a sex offenders' list to be compiled and published... This is a small island, a small community -- at worst a homophobic society in which no sex offender, even the reformed ones, could survive

Sex offenders' list not the answer

tribune242 editorial



"WHY DIDN'T God save him?"

This is the unanswerable question that the sixth graders of Columbus Primary School want answered. Their class teacher did her best, but as the children looked at the empty desk and chair, opened their classmate's text book to his first writing assignment that started with the words: "My name is Marco Archer. I am 11 years old..." there were no answers.

Eleven-year-old Marco Archer was dead -- murdered and believed sexually assaulted. The schoolboy had disappeared from his Brougham Street home on Friday, September 23. His lifeless body was discovered four days later by police under a suitcase behind an apartment complex on Yorkshire Street, Cable Beach.

There are no answers to the question: Why? And when a finite mind tries to grapple with the mysteries of the infinite, only an excruciating headache results. And so we satisfy ourselves with the answer that "God moves in mysterious ways... He is his own interpreter, and He will make it plain." It is now up to all of us to find out how we can assist those "mysterious ways" to eventually end with positive results.

It is society's duty to make certain that little Marco Archer did not die in vain.

For this, decisions have to be made by those with a level head, not those carried away by the angry emotions of the moment.

There are many who want a sex offenders' list to be compiled and published. This is a small island, a small community -- at worst a homophobic society in which no sex offender, even the reformed ones, could survive. No community would accept them. No employer would hire them. They would be open prey for vigilante justice. If we are now horrified by 104 murders, we would lose count if a sex offenders' list were published. There is also the danger - with the hysteria now being unleashed - that mere suspicion and gossip could target the innocent. The police know who the offenders are. We have to leave that knowledge with them to make certain that these people are carefully monitored.

No, as a society we have to make intelligent decisions. We cannot rush into something that could make our present situation even worse.

Sexual offenders should be put in the care of a psychiatrist as soon as the prison doors close behind them. Assessment and treatment should start immediately and continue until it is time for their discharge. A police officer suggested that whatever time they might have earned for good behaviour to warrant an early release should be assigned as a probationary period when treatment for their condition would continue.

At present, the maximum sentence for a first offence -- no matter how gruesome -- is seven years, followed by 12 years for a second, and life for a third.

We do not think that a sexual offender should be allowed to offend three times before he can face life imprisonment. Depending on the enormity of the crime, life imprisonment should be possible with the first offence. The judges should be able to grade the seriousness of the crime and hand down a sentence that would fit that crime. No judge should be put in the position of having to admit that the crime warranted more than seven years, but by law no more could be given.

While these offenders are in prison, they should be assessed by a panel to determine whether they can be safely returned to society. Those with psychotic problems, who are obviously dangerous, should be held for life. Even in prison special consideration will have to be given as to how they can be segregated from the rest of the prison community.

Persons applying for a teaching position, or any post that involves children should be carefully screened. No one with a questionable sexual history should be employed. Many restrictions can be put in place to safeguard our children, but they have to be fairly administered.

* * * *

For the first time in almost a year, Sgt Skipping, Public Affairs and Communications Officer, sent the press a most welcome release. For Sunday's crime report she wrote: "The night was quiet; there are no matters to report."

However, she did add her usual crime tip. This time for joggers. Said Sgt Skipping: "Jogging/walking is a great form of exercise; however, a frequent error that joggers/runners make is that they become so preoccupied in their activity that they fail to be on the alert and pay attention to their surroundings. As you enjoy your exercise, remember to always be on the alert, paying attention to suspicious people, vehicle and activities."

We hope that our community can enjoy many more quiet nights -- and that Sgt Skippings will be able to send us many more "no matters to report" memos.

October 03, 2011

tribune242 editorial

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