I don't think you CAN rehabilitate offenders. For one thing, many of them claim it's a disease, and you can't rehabilitate a disease, and the cure for it has not been found. I know that same uncle of mine was caught in an inappropriate situation with his infant sister when he was 5. Seems he had problems at a very early stage. And no...my grandparents weren't molesters and were very good parents. Out of 9 surviving kids (3 boys, 5 girls, one adopted girl) only 2 had problems. Plus, sex offenders have an extremely low rate of rehabilitation (for those that haven't at least been caught reoffending anyway), and an extremely
high rate of repeat offenses.
Those people picking the wrong person, that was something
they did wrong and should be locked up for. Even if they'd picked the right person. Having that person's info made public didn't cause them to choose the wrong target for their anger. If the wrong person's info had been posted, that would be a different story and cause to sue the governing body who posted it incorrectly. But I still wouldn't think it would negate the need for the service.
I find it a very proactive way, in that people are made aware, so perhaps parents won't get too lax. And so they can hand-pick the communities in which they want to live, so they know the strangers that come around their home might bear closer scrutiny while in the presence of their home/kids. It helps some people. And some may get hurt by it. But if we stop doing everything to help someone just because there's the possibility of someone getting hurt by it, what good will that do? I'm all for punishing the criminal. Whether it be the rapist, or the angry citizen who beat them up. There would also be less vigilante activity like the one you described if they did lock those involved up for long periods of time. But they probably sympathize and give them a minimum sentence. Just like the rapist who gets out in 6 months or 2 years, or who gets home confinement. Ridiculously low punishment that just leads to more offenses.
Now, it doesn't offend me. Everyone has their own opinion about matters. But until they start locking them away for life, keeping them away from our children, I'm glad they post it. For another, I have my uncle's FL link bookmarked and check it ocassionally. I like to know where the scum is. And it had best be a few states away. My family didn't think it appropriate of me to leave whenever he was coming to visit, nor to explain to my daughter how she was to never allow him to be in a room alone with her, etc. Too bad, so sad. When he molests them, they can speak to me further about how I should treat him.
Anyway, I find it appalling that FL has him listed for the under 12 Sexual Bat. and the under 16 Lewd, Lascivious, for which he spent 2 years in a FL facility and remains on supervised status. But have neglected to mention the 2 years he did in OH for similar offenses. Or that the state of OH removed all 5 of his wife's children because of him molesting them. For which he never did any time.
