If we asked men of old like Adam, upon creation, what he thought would be the greatest vice come 2000 years later he probably would have cited killing birds and the like. He never would have fathomed what the world would come to. Herein we deal with sex abuse of parent on their own children and what I think the appropriate course of action for such offender

The world watched in horror as he told of how he had held his daughter for 24 years in his basement and in so doing sired 7 children with her. People around the world could not comprehend the ease in which he told of this horrific tale. After this, the revelation, the whole world was literally baying for his blood. The fellow’s name is Josef Fritzl and he is Austrian. The reason why most cases like the one above go unpunished is because the issue is so sensitive that no one is willing to discuss it out loud. About Josef Fritzl literally the whole world called for his immediate death, most of them saying” how could someone do that to his own flesh and blood” Despite all this some people said that he needn’t not be killed, instead he should be offered therapy. This brought out angry reactions out people who said that all sympathizers should be killed along with him. This just shows how sensitive this issue of sex between parents and their offspring is.

Despite its being shrouded in secrecy most countries do have a policy on incest. In these countries incest is prohibited and punishable by 3-7 years of jail time with or without hard labor depending on the country. These countries include:

USA

Scotland

In the issue above of Josef Fritzl, it emerged that his childhood was characterized by a lot of suffering during the world war II era. His father left his mother shortly after he was born. It is also told that their home in Austria was destroyed by allied bomber and for a period in his life he spent at the famous German concentration camps. In the 60s Josef Fritzl was jailed for purportedly raping a woman. There is something that comes up about this, he had a troubled past. Most sex offenders are usually characterized by childhoods of untold suffering.

Therapy for Parent Sex offenders

The world hates people who commit sexual crimes, plain and simple. A study showed that many sex offenders e.g. parent who sexually molested their children, usually end up dying in jail as a result of beating by other prisoners. Some how people just cant stand sex offenders. But this notion begs a question, Are sex offender any different from other offenders let alone any worse. Many a people have misconceptions about sex offenders. They believe them to be heinous people who are always waiting by corner for the next child to walk by and hence pounce on him or her. They believe the child sex offenders are usually people who are incapable of remorse and regret for their action and believe that they will never heal and that the only solution is to put them to death or severe punishment. Consider the following case. A man is caught sexually abusing his daughter. In a separate case consider that this man while drunk driving knocks down his daughter and kills her. Between this two cases which are you more likely to demand the immediate punishment of the offender? I am trying to bring out that contrary to common misconception sexual abuse (specifically parent/child) is not the worst form of crime carried out, and that there are far worse. However much we may try to go around it we all can not deny that therapy is an effective tool in combating this vice.

People who are quick to call on the immediate death of the sex offender use the common saying that says” if a dog kills a chicken it must also be killed because it has tasted blood and will want more”. This is not usually the case many time though. We can’t avoid the question of whether this form of treatment really works. Dr. Berlin founder of the John Hopkins sexual disorders clinic says it works for some and doesn’t for others. Why then should we focus on those that it doesn’t work for instead of those that it actually works for. Dr. Berlin says however that most of the people he has treated it actually works for.

How therapy works

According to Dr. Berlin the offenders first have to connect to their past. Most Parent sex abusers, Dr Berlin says, have suffered various forms of sex abuse in the past or have been victims themselves. Under normal circumstances a normal person (mentally) would feel his own pain and that of his victim after abusing them. Sex offenders however do not. Why? The pain they themselves felt desensitizes them not only from their own feelings but also that of their victims. Certainly it is unimaginable that parents in their right senses would want to abuse their own children. Resurrecting their past may enable the perpetrators to acquire a state called “victim empathy” This state enables the offender to feel pain, his or hers and that of their victims. Therapist say that this is the most important and also the most difficult stage of all.” It is not easy for people whether normal or abnormal to relive dark or painful pasts”, say Dr. Berlin.

The after-stage of the “connecting with your past stage” is the relapse and prevention stage. Offenders are taught to respect their victims and also thought-stoppage techniques. Also taught in this stage is ways of determining situations that could act as triggers. In this stage it is made very clear to the offender that what he did is very wrong and at the same time his humanness is emphasized. This usually acts to improve the perpetrators esteem and makes their self control easily achievable. A good number of parent who have at one time abused their children do actually have immense care for them. Most of these parents actually know that they are wrong to do that to their children and would like professional. Help. However realistically who would want to risk a life of jail time, brutality from fellow inmates, and life as a social outcast? No one. Unattended to, they surge ahead in their wrong doing. Countries that have in place cut-throat polices on incestuous parents prevent the perpetrators from attaining professional help an thereby forcing them to go on.

Children who are victims of abuse from their own parents would be helped more if the parent is given professional help. The help of the parent(perpetrator) however comes at a price. They include

Zero tolerance to repeating the offence Enrolling and completion of therapy certified by an therapist Complete and unrelactant personal revelation of one self on request from the authorities.

Many sex offender desire help but instead they are judged harshly with no one willing to give them any listening ear.

Punishment

For me punishment for offenders should depend on what caused the parent in this case to abuse to abuse his or her child.

As we saw earlier most sex abusers are usually victims themselves. If this is what drove him to do whatever he did then punishing him especially through jail time would end up being of no consequence. Victims of sex abuse are usually desensitized to pain both his or hers and that of their victim. Punishing them as opposed to giving them theraputic help would only surmount to continuing the chain, in that the abused children could end up being abusers themselves.

In the case of Josef Fritzl most probably his was as result of his tough upbringing, lack of a father figure and hence his desire to feel the need to impose his authority on weaker victims. Note, I am absolutely not trying to justify his actions whatsoever; it was inhumane of him and completely wrong. But just for the chance that it was not self triggered he deserves to be heard.

The other scenario is if the abuse is self triggered. There are situations that trigger actions such as abusing one’s own children. Watching of pornography, participating in sex chats with people who share similar ideas could do nothing but “encourage” such ideas. The abuser parent’s past should be well investigated and if it is found that it was conducive enough for good growth, then the only solution is to punish the offender. Serving prison time has it advantage That include

Give the abuser time to reflect on his wrong doing, acquire remorse and conform

Segregating him from the rest of the community is useful for the rest as danger is

removed from their midst

The abuser could meet people like him in jail and they could get to talk to each

other and get to the roots of their vice. Talking with each other shows the

perpetrator that he is not alone and this could encourage him to change.

Conclusion

My view on all this is that before dealing with parent abusers we should first take time to see what caused him to be like that. After finding this out appropriate action should be taken. i.e. If not his(the abuser’s)fault then we have to give him or her his fair chance and enroll him in therapy

If he or she brought it upon themselves then jail time, to me is required, but again while in jail he or she should be given therapy

Ultimately, however root we take, we cannot deny the importance of therapy in cases of sex abuse.