Paedophilia: plague or panic?

A punitive socio-legal policy towards sex offenders against miners has been driven by public demand. The perception of an appallingly high incidence o f serious abuse by incorrigible men has been encouraged by press sensationa lism, but criminal statistics and recidivism studies fail to confirm either an escalation of sex crimes against miners or the inevitability of recidiv ism. Retrospective victim studies have given alarming indications of the pr evalence of abuse, but they have often included trivial incidents and the e xperiences of sexually active adolescents that do not involve real paedophi les. Clinical observation demonstrates the devastating effects of child sex abuse, but community surveys suggest that minor incidents have only minor effects, except when accompanied by other stresses. Statutory changes and p rison statistics reveal the increasing punitiveness of criminal justice. Ex aggerated perception of risk produces undue restrictions on children's free dom and on their interactions with teachers and other adults. Assumptions o f incorrigibility impede the rehabilitation of offenders through vigilantis m, stigmatization and barriers to employment. This amplifies deviance and d oes not protect children.