About 250,000 sex offenders are in the United States. Over 217,000 of them will never reoffend again. Therefore, to paint with such a broad brush a permanent label, is not only unfair but a major injustice that will only compound the problem. Further, most rearrests tend to be for other criminal acts, not sexual offending. Successful treatment means safety for the offender and most importantly, for potential victims.
Most research shows that treatment is effective, depending upon the type of offender.
Treatment cuts in half the recidivism rate among exhibitionists and child molesters, yet cuts recidivism among rapists by just a few percent. While there is no cure for sex offenders, a successful treatment includes relapse prevention, which helps the offender focus on controlling the cycle of troubling emotions, distorted thinking, and deviant sexual fantasies that lead to their crimes. The first step is helping for them to develop empathy for their victims. The most effective types of treatment are not confrontational. Motivational approaches to treatment are better suited for sex offenders.