DEAR FRIEND:

PLEASE HELP TO SAVE CHILDREN
FROM SEXUAL ABUSE
 
HERE ARE THE FACTS

(1) 88% of molestations are never reported (millions each year in the U.S. alone). The children do not tell for many reasons—shame, fear, guilt, relationship to offender, possible upheaval to family unit.
(2) Some offenders want professional help; they would like to control their compulsions. 93% are close to the children, many care about them—but must learn self-restraint through therapy.
(3) CATCH 22: According to existing laws, if a molester seeks therapy, he must be reported. In few other helping professions is such a breach of confidentiality allowed—let alone mandated.
(4) Realistically, how many will consult a therapist and risk prison—with brutality from other inmates, parole with the photo registry, GPS ankle manacles, and lifelong status as an outcast?
(5) This approach is upside-down, ex-post-facto rather than preventive. Only a minority of convicted molesters receive treatment—and none of the millions who are unreported.
(6) Research shows that special therapy does work for many sex offenders. Recidivism rates for untreated offenders can be cut by 40% for treated offenders.
(7) Per most studies, 1 of 3 girls and 1 of 5-6 boys are molested—1.5 billion humans. The effects in adulthood can be critical— including earlier average mortality. Many victims die younger.

MOLESTER RECIDIVISM, VIOLENCE, AND LAWS
(FACTS AND STATS VERSUS MYTHS)
 
Recidivism Rates
Contrary to public misconception, molester recidivism is so rare that it's second only to murder. The U.S. Department of Justice shows only a 5.3% re-arrest rate and 3.5% re-conviction rate of sex offenders within 3 years after release, compared with more than 60% for other criminals. Over time, recidivism increases, but only to 17% for untreated molesters, per a 61-study analysis by Dr. Karl Hanson—far from the "uncontrollable" myth sold by the media.
 
Media Hype and Violence
The mass media thrive on sensationalism, portraying the rare violence-prone offender as the norm, while under 0.1% of molestations involve murder, per expert Dr. David Finklhor. That's less than 1 in 1,000, compared with thousands of annual child fatalities from neglect, physical abuse, murder by parents, and auto accidents involving alcohol. Yet, many people have been driven by the media to fear "violent predators" behind every door and around every corner.
 
Politicians, Psychology, and the Public
Legislators are not psychologists—most of them know very little about molester stats and facts. Yet, they are authorized to enact laws regarding a serious topic that very few have studied. A number of politicians have high standards, but many are self-serving, with re-election their only goal. And if a false idea gains wide acceptance, they will back it regardless of fact. Thus, we have many uninformed and unethical politicians playing to a misguided public due to the media feeding-frenzy.

PREVENTION VERSUS RETRIBUTION
 
Controlling Compulsions
The public has been further misled about molesters' ability to learn control. That's why most people see extreme and punitive measures as the only option for offenders. But control is quite possible: diabetics can learn to avoid sugar, alcoholics can abstain from drink, and many molesters can find ways to refrain from at-risk thoughts and situations, thus protecting potential victims from the psychic damage of child sexual abuse that can endure for a lifetime. We, the voters, must make it possible for the millions of unreported molesters to achieve control—but they will not seek help if jail awaits. And if the children don't tell, what is the answer to this Catch-22?
 
The Answer is Confidential Treatment
Most molesters have been abused, then blocked out their traumas. Thus, they aren't aware of their victims' reactions—even believing that they experience pleasure. By reliving their own distress in therapy and reconnecting with their feelings, they can perceive the damage to victims. In this manner, they can learn "victim empathy"—a vital measure. Offenders are also taught "victim respect" as well as "thought-stoppage," ways to identify situations that can act as triggers, and ways to create a relapse-prevention plan. It's made clear in therapy that their offenses are extremely wrong, but if they are treated as humans—not monsters—their self-esteem can improve, and better control can be achieved.
 
How Effective is Treatment?
According to Bill Plantiere, former administrator of New Jersey's sex-offender treatment center, certain studies show that treatment can reduce recidivism up to 40%. Robert Gill, a sex-offender therapist, has found that molesters do not want to molest. Thus, if they are driven by unwanted forces, many can acquire the mental tools to restrain themselves. Ultimately, treatment success depends on the patient's motivation—and many do want to change. Dr. Jay Adams on our Advisory Board has had waiting lists of 100+ offenders seeking therapy. Another Advisor, psychotherapist Earl C. Jones, cites an old Southern axiom: "'If a dog kills a chicken, it must be killed. It has tasted blood and will want more.' Now, it's thought that molesters will always re-offend. Neither belief is true-molesters can be helped."

TWO VERY DIFFERENT CASE HISTORIES
 
John Couey
Jessica Lunsford recently was molested and murdered by John Couey, a 48-year-old vagrant whose ravaged face looks twice his age. More telling, his mother is a "closed subject" for him. He is regarded as "pond scum"—but Court files show that from 1978 to 1991, he had pled for help. In letters to his attorneys, he repeatedly wrote, "I have a disease of the mind. Please get me a psychiatrist." His pleas went unheeded—but if he'd received help, Jessica might be with us yet. This is not just anecdotal; Advisor Dr. Ray Anderson has treated men still in the "fantasy" stage, begging for ways to change their thoughts.
 
Wayne Bowers
Mr. Bowers is a former offender who is serving on our Advisory Board. He reports that he was "out of control" for 20 years. Then he entered therapy at the Johns Hopkins Sexual Disorders Clinic. And he has not offended for the last 22 years. He is now considered recovered, and is helping others to achieve the same through his Sexual Abuse Treatment Alliance. Quite a giant leap—from exile to expediter. If Wayne Bowers is a poster boy for sex-offender treatment, John Couey might be viewed as a "billboard" for lack of treatment. His need was urgent-and it was not met.

TRAITS OF MOLESTERS AND VICTIMS
 
Molester Profiles
There is no typical molester profile. They cross all socioeconomic, ethnic, religious, and national lines. They can range from transients to pillars of the community. They can be anyone you know. However, certain characteristics are commonly shared: low self-esteem and childhood abuse—sexual, physical, emotional, neglect, or a combination. And due to their resultant sense of inadequacy, they choose non-threatening children as sexual partners. Many are also capable of adult relationships, but children are "safer" and more vulnerable; as in adult rape, it's more about power and control than about sexuality.
 
Victim Profiles
Many violated children already come from dysfunctional environments and project an aura of neediness—easily spotted by potential molesters. They are also mistakenly inclined to self-blame, thinking that they "asked for it"—and some carry this burden of unwarranted guilt throughout their lives. Also, due to the message they receive at an impressionable age that their bodies are their prime value and that "wrong" is normal, AMACs (Adults Molested As Children) are over-represented in brothels, prisons, and on the streets. Other possible problems can include substance abuse, eating disorders, general neglect of health, abusive relationships, failure to fulfill potentials, and other forms of self-sabotage—including suicide. 'Thus, their earlier average mortality rate.
 
Common Traits
Therefore, both predator and prey are victims with similar traits. Many share low self-esteem and behaviors that are destructive to themselves and to others. Early sexualization can create an adult pattern of promiscuity and at-risk conduct. Numerous studies show that 65% to 90% of sex workers were victims, just as many molesters were abused. In intrafamily abuse (incest), a multi-generational cycle can occur—until someone breaks the chain.
 
Childhood sexual abuse can thus be a contagious disease, with prey becoming predator.

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT
THIS PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIC?
 
  (1) The vast number of unreported molesters must be given the chance for confidential treatment, with many strict conditions attached. This is the only way to flush them out of the woodwork.
(2) We must let our politicians know that we, the public, approve of this alternative—that in many cases, prevention is a far more effective remedy than retribution. We need alternatives.
(3) This can be accomplished with your help—let's submerge our legislators with petitions!

FINANCIAL IMPACT
 
  (1) Unless the client is indigent and needs Medicaid, the public cost for this measure will be NONE.
(2) Compare this with the millions spent on GPS tracking devices—virtually useless, as most offenses take place in the home; or with the billions spent on incarceration—avoidable in many cases with preventative therapy.
(3) As an additional benefit, the savings can go towards educational grants for training more sex-offender therapists; there are presently far too few practitioners in this fairly new field.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION(S) AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.

IF ENOUGH SIGNATURES ARE OBTAINED, OUR LEGISLATORS MAY
FINALLY PASS LOGICAL, PRACTICAL, AND SENSIBLE LAWS!


THANK YOU!

BETTY SCHNEIDER
Director, Therapy-Key
Dual B.A., Psychology and Sociology
Memberships:
California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCOSO)
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
American Mensa, Ltd.

ADVISORY BOARD

DR. JAY ADAMS, Psychotherapist
Treatment of Sex Offenders and Adults Abused as Children, since 1978
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Washington
M.A., Criminology, University of California at Berkeley
Therapy conducted in prison and hospital environments.
Articles and Presentations on Sex-Offender Treatment
Area of Interest:
How victims of abuse become perpetrators and how that cycle can be broken.
Board Member, California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCOSO)

DR. RAYMOND E. ANDERSON, Psychotherapist
President, Pacific Professional Associates, Inc., est. 1978
Sex-Offender Treatment and Assessment Program
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of California at Los Angeles
Publications and Presentations on Sex-Offender Treatment
Area of Interest:
How effective assessment and treatment of sex offenders can dramatically reduce recidivism.
Memberships:
Association for Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA)
American Psychological Association (APA)
California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCOSO)

EARL C. JONES, Psychotherapist
Masters Level Licensed Professional Addiction Counselor
Sex-Offender Treatment Specialty, since 1990
Physiological Detection of Deception (PDD), since 1985
Substance Abuse Treatment, Mental Health Evaluations
Area of Interest:
Successful treatment and assessment of sex offenders, utilizing expertise in valid polygraph testing.
Member, Association for Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA)

DR. LOUIS ROVNER, Polygraph Expert
President, Rovner & Associates
Ph.D., Experimental Psychology, University of Utah
M.A., Biopsychology, University of British Columbia
Conducting polygraph examinations since 1976
Researcher and author of numerous scientific and professional articles
Many presentations about the science of polygraph testing
Memberships:
American Psychological Association
American Polygraph Association
Society for Psychophysiological Research
American Psychology-Law Society
California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCOSO)

DR. NANCY B. IRWIN, Psychotherapist
Treatment of Sex Offenders and Adults Abused as Children
PsyD, Clinical Psychology, California Southern University
Area of Interest:
How victims of abuse and abusers can heal through restorative therapy
Education Committee Member, California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCOSO)
Member California Psychological Association
Diplomate, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress

WAYNE BOWERS, Former Offender Recovered Through Treatment
Executive Director, Sex Abuse Treatment Alliance (SATA)
Work with therapists, victims, those who have offended, families affected, community representatives.
Area of interest:
Prevention of sexual abuse through effective treatment techniques.
Mission Statement:
We agree with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), that sexual abuse is a public health issue—not solely a criminal justice issue—and that prevention is best served when public policy makers, the justice system, educators, and therapists approach the problem from this perspective. We are dedicated to preventing sexual abuse through education, outreach, dialogues, media presentations, networking and conferences.

CONSULTANT
FRED S. BERLIN, M.D., Ph.D.

Founder, The Johns Hopkins Sexual Disorders Clinic
Director, National Institute for the Study, Prevention, and Treatment of Sexual Trauma
(Designated by the U.S. Department Of Justice as a National Resource Site)
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Attending Physician, The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Presentations Include:
White House Conference on Childhood Sexual Abuse
Juvenile Justice Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate
Colleges of Judges in several states

Consultations Include:
National Conference of Catholic Bishops
The European Parliament

Numerous Professional Publications
Peer Reviews for Professional Journals Including:
Journal of the American Medical Association; American Journal of Psychiatry

Contract from the National Institute of Mental Health for Bibliography on Sex Offender Treatment
Grant from Guggenheim Foundation to Study Brain Chemistry during Sexual Arousal

CONDITIONS OF EXEMPTION FROM REPORTING

(1) Agree to no more re-offense—zero tolerance.
(2) Commit to treatment with trained professionals who specialize in sex-offender therapy.
(3) Provide entire personal ID, including names/AKA’s, addresses and vehicle info with mandatory updates, Social Security and D/L numbers, photos, fingerprints, blood types, DNA samples—all to be reported immediately by therapist to the authorities if re-offense is perceived.
(4) Comply with program requirements, e.g., time/duration of treatment (2-3x/week, 3-5 years).
(5) Pay for own treatment, on sliding scale if needed. If indigent or over 65, Medicaid or Medicare will cover cost.
(6) Identification of former victim(s) and, if possible, a face-to-face meeting to allow victim(s) closure via an apology and confirmation that the act was entirely the offender’s fault and not the victim(s)’.
(7) Victim(s) to receive therapy if needed, at offender’s expense or from Medicaid.
(8) Achieve proper control of thoughts and actions, per professional assessments of therapists, including polygraph and/or plethysmograph testing, plus sex-offender-specific written psychometric tests at therapist's discretion.
(9) Commit to follow-up evaluations at given intervals for an explicit duration after discharge.

The above conditions are necessary—not only to protect our children, but to avoid coddling molesters. This new law can do no harm—it can only serve to bring forth troubled offenders who want help. Your petition(s) will be forwarded to California and Federal delegations for legislative consideration. The measure may be initiated at the State level or proposed directly on the floor of Congress in Washington .

NOTE: 
 		 This enactment will not conflict with existing laws requiring conviction of reported molesters. It will apply only to the many unreported, and is a supplement—not a replacement—to present laws.

Will gladly respond ASAP to any questions. Please e-mail bettyschneider@therapy-key.com

Please email everyone you know.
We do not share email addresses

HELP SAVE THE CHILDREN BY HELPING THE OFFENDERS!

YOUR SIGNATURE IS NEEDED NOW TO PASS THIS VITAL BILL IN 2009!

CA PETITION
TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE
I, the undersigned, urge you to pass the following Enactment to help remedy the
Public Health Epidemic of Childhood Sexual Abuse:
CONDITIONAL EXEMPTION FROM REPORTING FOR MOLESTERS WHO VOLUNTARILY
SEEK PROFESSIONAL TREATMENT

NAME:
Any Credential:
(MD, Ph. D. JD etc.)
ADDRESS:
  
 
CITY:
 If more than one signer, blank petition will return after you submit. Thank you.
ZIP CODE:
    
 
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ONLY

U.S. PETITION
TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND SENATE
I, the undersigned, urge you to pass the following Enactment to help remedy the
Public Health Epidemic of Childhood Sexual Abuse:
CONDITIONAL EXEMPTION FROM REPORTING FOR MOLESTERS WHO VOLUNTARILY
SEEK PROFESSIONAL TREATMENT

NAME:
Any Credential:
(MD, Ph. D. JD etc.)
ADDRESS:
    
CITY:
 If more than one signer, blank petition will return after you submit. Thank you.
STATE:
    
ZIP CODE:
    
 
FOR ALL U.S. CITIZENS

THANK YOU!

Count: