30 years ago Wayne Bethurum was in his late 40s when he groomed an underage family member and entered into what he thought of as a relationship. He says he now understands after completing his prison sentence for sexual assault. Since then he has not reoffended and has been involved in his community. After receiving volunteer of the month the community found out he was on the registry.
Colorado’s sex offender registry is now at roughly 20,000 people. A few victims of sexual abuse believe Colorado’s system of managing sex offenders does more harm than good. That system is controlled by the State’s Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB). Critics argue that this system can demoralize and continuously punish people who genuinely want to be better.
Apryl Alexander (professor at University of Denver) counter reacts with “We do have to be tough on crime. We have to make our communities safe. The issue is that on sexual violence not much is changing. The state auditor found that board members of SOMB were voting on policy matters to benefit their own firms and the state has been accused by its own wasteful spending, delays in getting people past their parole and eligibility date into treatment. Last year 47 convicted sex offenders got out of prison last year without receiving treatment.
Penile Plethysmography testing is still authorized in SOMB standards. Plethysmography testing is a measurement of blood flow to the penis while showing images/videos. Conard Gonzales convicted of sexual assault on multiple children still recalls his plethysmograph 22 years ago. The testing shown pictures of a child in a diaper, a man wearing a thong, etc. While audio played in the background. Gonzales says it traumatized him.
These test cost the state and offenders millions. A 2017 study in the international journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology found that survivors were more supportive than non-survivors of treatment for sex offenders. In Colorado it’s estimated that the population SOMB serves commits fewer than 1% of sexual offenders in the state. That is most offenders got away with it because sexual assualt is under reported.
The state could divert funding away from heavy surveillance that they say often have no positive rehabilitative effect. You can read more about this article here :
Critics seek reform of Colorado sex offender laws they say can do more harm than good
I was not familiar with the sex offender laws in Colorado before reading this. I had also never heard of Penile Plethysmography testing. Sex offenders do deserve to be convicted and serve time and to hear that most offenders get away their crimes. As for the SOMB making decisions for personal gain and interest, I don’t think that is ever okay and they should be held accountable.