Just to play devil's advocate but has anyone seen the movie The Woodsman? This discussion reminded me of that movie.

Before I say anything else I'm in no way condoning sexual offense. I do agree that there's a difference in offenses, though. You can be a registered sex offender for getting caught streaking. Yeah, it may be a little weird. But I don't think it's nearly the same level as, say, child abuse. So I suppose the actual violation and situation may change a person's opinion. A streaker is probably not going to do serious sexual offenses. They may skinny dip in your pool, though .

But as for why I bring up that movie it brings up almost exactly this scenario. Granted it's a work of fiction. It brings up the question, however...can someone who does something horrible reform? American History X brings up this same question in the perspective of racial violence instead of sexual abuse. Many people are never going to reform. But some do. Is it that easy for us to judge whether or not someone should be given a second chance?

I don't really have an answer. A large part of me wants to say "They had their chance!" and leave it at that. Lock 'em up and throw away the key. But this nagging voice thinks about people like my cousin who was arrested for drug dealing and now works at a massage parlor and has done a lot to turn his life around. Sure, he made some bad decisions. At what point does someone become hopeless? At what point do we say they can't have another chance? Should I just say that my cousin will always be a criminal?

Yes, you can argue there's a difference between what he did and a child abuser and I'd agree completely. It's just that I personally have difficulty judging people without knowing the full details and even then I hesitate.

Just something to think about. Or not. Call me pro-sex pervert if you want . It is my personal opinion that I can judge actions but not people. I know it's a fine line and in many ways it may seem unimportant, especially in the context of something as horrible as sexual crimes. But that line makes a difference to me.

My mother is fond of quoting St Thomas Aquinas when he said "Justice without mercy is cruelty, mercy without justice goes to waste."

Jacquesne