Sanctuary

Sexual offenders shatter lives.Drug abuse, pregnancy, and suicide are often symptomatic of
sexual abuse (Berger, 2008). Victims may become abusers(Barbaree &Marshall).Victims carry shame, self-doubt, and fear with them for years, decades , lifetimes. Victims often have relationship, and intimacy issues that can affect not only themselves also their families.The offender's sentence is comparatively short. The emotion and sensationalism that sex crimes
evoke cause strong reaction, perhaps over-riding action. Improving laws, initiating preventions,
and finding effective methods rehabilitation are all areas that need to be addressed. In the meantime, there are 400 registered sex offenders in King County. There are 3 registered sex offenders within blocks of where I reside. These 3 happen to be young adults. They would not be distinguishable in a crowd. Sex offenders come in in all ages, sizes, ethnicity and personality. There is no type. They have some of the same general needs as the rest of the population. Food, shelter, safety are basic human needs. The right to housing for registered sex offenders must be reconciled with the right to safe housing for families and other individuals.

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Children ,Youth and Families records over 70,000 substantiated victims of sex abuse in 2005. The largest percentage of the were very young teens, 12-15 years olds. Another 20,00 are 8-11 years old.
The perpetrator is likely not a stranger. More often, the offender is a family member or close friend. There is no question that the damage done to individuals and communities by sexual abuse is insidious and far reaching.

The subject of sexual offenders is highly charged. Many people have been abused or seen the effects of abuse. Parents of children are frightened if they lose sight of a child on a playground or in a mall. Fear and disgust, while valid, may actually impede investigating possible solutions.
Therapeutic treatment for sexual offenders is relatively new and sparsely available. Reports of it's effectiveness are varied. Some report, high success. An example of this is Missouri where the
report is 94 percent with no repeat offence up to 10 years after completion of treatment.
http://www.ky3.com/news/specialreports/10803431.html. However that percentage only reflects only those who complete the program, many do not. Other programs ,reports and analysis show little, if any effect. Recidivism with or without treatment is lower than may be expected. Re-offence rate averages 13 percent at 5 years. That is less than the recidivism rate for general criminal offences. There is authoritative agreement that little reliable evidence is currently available proving any specific treatment as effective, nor any that proves it not effective.

Less than 2 decades ago legislation passed that addressed housing as an equal opportunity.
America does not officially sanction discrimination. In this county safe housing is a right. Their are no legal sanctions against any particular groups right to housing. There are restrictions, however that severely impair access by certain groups . Having a past felony will severely limit housing options. Public housing, for the most part is closed to the registered sex offender. Reasonably, sex offenders may not locate near parks, school or other concentrations of children.

Unfortunately, lack of houses choices translates to many sex offenders being homeless. Sex offenders living few blocks away does not make me feel terrible secure, yet,there is some relief knowing they are likely home asleep as I write this. I would be tenfold more disconcerted if they were sleeping in a doorway, driveway or alley or behind a fence near near here.There are over 400 registered sex offenders without homes in King County. I believe for sex offenders housing gives motivation , accountability and something to lose. It provides a certain measure of public safety. It may be that segregated housing for sex offenders is a viable option. Clean and sober housing for alcoholic/addicts is an example of what might be an option for sex offenders. Requiring this kind of transitional housing after incarceration might be a way of accessing where a person is at on there ability to safely integrate into society. This would seem to be simply prudent, given what is at stake.

Resources:

U.S Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration on Youth and Families, 2006

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology , Predicting Relapse, A meta-analysis of sex offender recidivism studies, Hanson & Bussiere 1998
The Developing Person Through the Lifespan, Berger, Worth Publishing New York, 2008

The Juvenile Offender, Barbaree & Marshall, Guilford Press New York 2006