Washington Rape Case Questions Rehabilitation

Prosecutors Attempt to Commit South Hills Rapist to State Care

Sep 13, 2008 John Leonard Lovik

In Spokane, Washington state prosecutors are trying to keep a man believed to have raped 53 women in state custody as mental patient.

The state of Washington is trying to stop a man believed to have raped 53 women in the Spokane area from returning to society. Authorities argue that the number and severity of his crimes put the public at risk should he be released at the end of his 25 year sentence. Currently, MSNBC is reporting on the civil case that is to decide whether or not the convict will be remanded to state mental health facilities as criminally psychotic or will be let free. This sordid case has drawn attention from writers and filmmakers, but the greater question here is the idea that some of the nation's criminals can never be rehabilitated.

The Rehabilitation Debate

Amoung correctional institutes and their administrations there is a heated debate as to the purpose of prisons in the United States. Some believe that rehabilitation is the purpose so that these criminals can be given a chance to re-enter society. Others cite the gang problems with groups such as the Aryan Brotherhood, the Surenos, and MS13 which started in these prisons and have now created holding facilities into training grounds. For these people, the idea of criminal rehabilitation is an unrealistic ideal; more so in the case of sexual offenders.

Sexual Offenders Rehabilitation

Many experts have put forth the idea that those who commit sexual offenses are acting on a psychotic urge that goes beyond mere anti-social tendencies that most criminals harbors. They see these types of criminals as compulsive and, therefore, unresponsive to typical criminal punishments.

The complicating factor in the case of the South Hills rapist is that he never sought rehabilitation or even parole, which would mandate some form of counseling, in the 25 years he spent in prison. His own reasoning being that he is innocent of crimes and therefore looks for complete legal vindication, while others perceive these acts as simple avoidance of a truth.

The South Hills Case

What makes the South Hills case worth watching is the fact that this upper-class suburban son has pushed the limits of the state's clemency. Should the courts rule in favor of committing the convict after the end of his time served in prison, it will constitute a movement towards recognizing real criminal threats and coming to terms with the fact that they will never be able to safely function in society.

The complication with a case of this magnitude, and with any sexual assualt case, is with the witnesses. Rape, in many minds, is the worst crime that can be perpetrated on another human being. Psychologically it traumatizes in ways that will effect the victim for years to come and often destroys their sense of security. Because of the crime's impact, it is hard to get victims to come forward to testify in cases such as these, especially when the case is so high profile.

The copyright of the article Washington Rape Case Questions Rehabilitation in Law, Crime & Justice is owned by John Leonard Lovik. Permission to republish Washington Rape Case Questions Rehabilitation in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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Sep 30, 2008 8:42 AM

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