Perpetrators and Pariahs: Definitional and Punishment Issues For Child Sex Offenders, and Therapeutic Alternatives for the Criminal Justice System

Abstract

<p><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A punitive approach to criminal sentencing is profoundly counterintuitive in circumstances where incarceration and criminal labelling expedites, rather than prevents, recidivism. In a bid to avoid physical contact offences some paedophiles self-manage with low-level offending, such as viewing child exploitation material. These individuals are child sex offenders who may be receptive to rehabilitation with therapeutic assistance, yet are punished in a system deficient of genuine rehabilitation methodology. Therapeutic jurisprudence approaches for paedophiles have seen great success in international jurisdictions. This article contends that it  </span><span style="font-size: medium;">is not without merit as an alternative for Australian sentencing practices. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></em></p>