FACT: More people are now listed on sex-offender registries than are currently in jail in the US. It’s an amazing statistic that illuminates one of the darkest corners of our criminal justice system: our fear-based approach to dealing with sex offenders.
So why do we have these massive lists? Are they fair? Do they keep us safe?
Untouchable, the award-winning documentary that takes an unflinching look at sex offenders, the laws used to punish them, and the people behind the making of those laws, will be available for personal streaming January 15th, on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon. Look for it also at your public or institutional library that subscribes to Kanopy.
This award-winning documentary (Tribeca Film Festival – Albert Maysles New Documentary Director Award) explodes conventional thinking on this topic with data showing that current sex-offender laws and systems of punishment aren’t making us any safer.
It’s the first documentary to challenge deeply help public perceptions with new and compelling social science research. A few of the facts it reveals:
- Our system of punishing sex offenders through forced isolation and extreme stigmatizing doesn’t make us or our children any safer.
- More than three quarters of a million people are on sex offender registries. In Oregon, 1 in every 88 adult men is a registered sex offender.
- Contrary to public perception, only a tiny percentage of sex offenders are likely to reoffend. Actual same-crime recidivism numbers for sex offenders is in the low single digits.
- Once released from prison, registrants can be subject to over 100 separate conditions.
Over 90 percent of sex offenders are returned to prison not because they committed another sex crime, but rather because of a technical parole or probation violation. - While passing extremely punitive laws can make lawmakers appear tough on crime, many of these laws create inhumane living situations for those being punished, and fail to make us safer.
- Some of the people who have been most profoundly hurt by sexual predators actually support a more evidence-based system of treatment rather than severe punishment
What drives these laws? And what benefits do they really provide? Untouchable takes you deep into our criminal justice system to reveal the complicated truth behind the explosive growth of what has become one of America’s largest punishment systems.
Makes me feel for my brothers in Florida. While L Book was abused and that is awful her father isnt about protecting children, all he wants to do is punish offenders which does little to prevent future abuse.
As we have learned with the death penalty, these deterrents do not work.
Ron Book is a very sick man, I can kind of understand his guilt for not protecting his daughter. She was abused by a Nanny from 11 on for several years and he must feel pretty bad for not catching it. But first off, A registry would not have helped. The nanny had no priors. Secondly, why would you want to punish everyone, even those who did no hands on offenses? That is not rationale, that is resentment. Thirdly, they had the means to punish the perpetrator, isn’t that sufficient? Why punish all people even remotely related, those they know nothing about? so many unanswered questions. This family is about using there power to abuse people and take out vigilante justice. Why would Lauren be so vindictive against all people? Sure, her perpetrator, but all SO’s? This is about a family that has guilt and resentment that they are taking out on others, and there is an extreme conflict of interest as Lauren is the state senator and is doing her fathers vindictive biding to harm thousands. Something is not right, they are going to make a mistake and it will all come out.
I completely understand Ron Book’s rage. As a father I get it yet legislating on anger or fear makes poor laws. Ultimately all that he has accomplished will be for nothing. Eventually it will become recognized that all of the political grand standing is unconstitutional and will be rolled back. Good luck Ron Book with the stroke I am sure it will cause you.
I watched this documentary today. While I have lots of feelings and emotions right now, a few things stuck out from near the end.
Lauren Book seems to be changing her mind about how her dad thinks. Lauren states “What can we do to create smart policy to again do what, not be punitive, to keep kids and communities safe?” Itruly hope she is sincere about that statement.
Ron Book also goes back on the laws he has helped pass by answering the question of “which of these laws would have been most effective in protecting your daughter?” Ron states “Ya know, most of the laws that we have passed were likely to have done nothing to protect my daughter.” Really Ron?… then why are the useless and punitive laws?
Ron went on to say, “But I believe had we properly educated my daughter on how to be safe, had properly trained her on safe touch and unsafe touch, had we properly trained her about secrets, and that no secret is forever, I am absolutely convinced the abuse would have been short lived”. Who’s to blame for that Ron? You? Society? The Nanny?
Huh. In 2009 Book claimed to be working to solve the RC homeless problem. https://www.newsweek.com/lobbyist-who-put-sex-offenders-under-bridge-81755 You gotta at least give him credit for thrice saying on the record, “I was wrong.”
Either he’s a wholly ineffective lobbyist when it comes to this topic, or he was blowing smoke up Newsweek’s arse. His walk certainly isn’t matching his talk.
P.S. If anyone else, like I, was wondering why he looked so puffy in the movie, I suspect it was due to prostate cancer treatment. He had “an aggressive tumor.” https://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2016/11/ron-book-lobbyist-father-of-sen-book-soon-to-be-coach-book-faces-new-fight.html That had to really boil his butt since he doesn’t like competition…