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DENVER, CO- The obsession with trying to soft-pedal criminal offenses is getting beyond absurd. In some cities, they have stopped using the term “criminal” and instead use the much less offensive to bad guys term “justice-involved persons.”
Now in Colorado, sex offenders are no longer allowed to be called exactly what they are…sex offenders, according to CBS 4 in Denver.
According to the board that sets “standards”…for what we have no idea, they have decided to change the term “sex offender” to reflect what they call “person-first” language.
The board, otherwise known as the Sex Offender Management Board, is comprised of people from public defenders to prosecutors sets standards and guidelines for treatment providers, and alleges the new terminology will only be used in that specific context. While the term sex offender as defined in the law or criminal justice system will not change…for now…some worry that the change is a step in that direction.
One such person is Kimberly Corbin, a rape survivor who spoke out against changing the term “sex offender” to something “less stigmatizing.”
“I’m involved today after hearing that it would be improper or offensive in some manner for me to refer to the man who raped me, as a sex offender,” she said.
She said that labels based on traits people are unable to control is one thing, however, believes sex offenders are different.
“It’s very, very damaging for those people who are labeled when it has to do with gender, race, sexuality, ability, but those are not their choices; the biggest thing for me is these are choices that sex offenders make.”
One such sex offender, a man named Derek Logue told the outlet he didn’t feel he should carry the label for life.
“Referring to me by a label for something I did half my life ago is inappropriate and downright offensive,” he said.
Well, we certainly wouldn’t want to “offend” a sex offender, would we?
Logue claimed the word “client” is a more appropriate title…you know, like a customer of an accountant or something. Much less offensive than sex offenders.
Kathy Heffron, a public defender agrees, “It takes into consideration the uniqueness of individuals who are receiving treatment.”
The term “client” was apparently one of five options being considered by the board.
Without a basis for believing so other than virtue signaling for sexual deviates, supporters of the plan claim it will reduce recidivism, while opponents of the idea believe it will reduce accountability, making the obvious point that both victims and survivors have to live with those labels for life.
After discussion, the board voted 10-6 to change the term to “adults who commit sexual offenses.” People literally waste their time thinking stuff like this up. Your tax dollars are hard at work.
“I think this strikes a balance that honors the impact to victims and recognizes the current and ongoing impacts of sexual assault but also avoids the labeling term that has negative impacts on those who commit sex offenses.”
Oh, we see. We need to make sure we don’t hurt the feelings of rapists.
However, Jessica Dotter, who works with the Colorado District Attorneys’ Council believes changes won’t end with the Sex Offender Management Board.
“I’m concerned that the use of person-first language generally is an intent to remove accountability from offenders and to diminish the experience of the victims,” Dotter said.
Last year Colorado lawmakers, who clearly have too much time on their hands, proposed a bill that would have eliminated the term “sexually violent predator,” from the vernacular, along with some other changes, however they ended up pulling it from consideration.
At the same time, a task force currently investigating sentencing reform is looking to have the legislature change terms such as defendant, convict, and felon to the aforementioned “justice-involved people.”
While the Sex Offender Management Board changed the name to which sex offenders are known as, the board will still be known by the same name. Why you might ask? Because only the state legislature can change the name of the board.
As they say: Stupid is as Stupid does!