US Denver State Board Drops ‘Sex Offender’ Term Calling It A Negative Label - The board that sets state standards voted today to change the term “sex offenders” to reflect so-called “person-first” language.

The way sex offenders are labeled is changing in Colorado. The board that sets state standards voted today to change the term “sex offenders” to reflect so-called “person-first” language.

The Sex Offender Management Board, which is made up of everyone from public defenders to prosecutors, sets standards and guidelines for treatment providers so the new terminology will only be used in that context. It doesn’t change the term sex offender in law or the criminal justice system but some worry it’s a step in that direction.

“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.”

A rape survivor, Kimberly Corbin is among those who spoke out against changing the term sex offender to something less stigmatizing, saying labels based on traits people can’t control is one thing, “It’s very, very damaging for those who 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.”

Derek Logue says he shouldn’t have to 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 argued “client” would be a better term.

Public Defender Kathy Heffron agreed, “It takes into consideration the uniqueness of individuals who are receiving treatment.”

“Client” is one of five options the board considered.

Supports of the change in terminology argue it will reduce recidivism. Opponents say it will only reduce accountability, noting victims and survivors live with their label for life.

In the end, the board voted 10-6 to go with “adults who commit sexual offenses.”

“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.”

Jessica Dotter with the Colorado District Attorneys’ Council worries the change 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”

Last year, lawmakers considered a bill that would have, among other things, eliminated the term “sexually violent predator” from statutes but they ended up pulling it. Meanwhile, a task force charged with sentencing reform is considering asking the legislature to change terms like “defendant,” “convict,” and “felon” to “justice-involved people.”

Ironically, the Sex Offender Management Board will not drop “sex offender” from its name because only the state Legislature can change the name of the board.

Colorado State Board Drops 'Sex Offender' Term Calling It A Negative Label

The way sex offenders are labeled is changing in Colorado. The board that sets state standards voted today to change the term "sex offenders" to reflect so-called "person-first" language.

denver.cbslocal.com

State Board Drops ‘Sex Offender’ Term Calling It A Negative Label – C…

archived 20 Nov 2021 18:49:11 UTC

archive.md

 

[Billy Beer]

Every face palm gif ever in a montage.gif

every "what?" gif ever in a montage.gif

both of those montages playing on loop, beamed on to the side of the moon couldn't express my feelings after reading this article.

 

[queue-anon]

This along with celebrity veneration of "Jojo" means I predict we're a couple years away from libs giving rapists the Medal of Honor.

 

[uBlock Origin]

Supports of the change in terminology argue it will reduce recidivism.

Yeah the less honest and therefore less stigmatizing label will surely reduce the rate that these rapists and paedophiles reoffend.

Jessica Dotter with the Colorado District Attorneys’ Council worries the change 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”

How long until courts are told to refer to convicted murderers as "clients"?

 

[LateNightMuffin]

my kingdom for a horrifying rating.

 

[Kane Lives]

Lol, literally "offenders of sex". Congrats on passing an utterly do-nothing law that validates your use in the bureaucracy I guess.

 

[Dialtone]

“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.”

"avoids the labeling term that has negative impacts on those who commit sex offenses.”

"negative impacts on those who commit sex offenses.”

The whole point is to have a negative impact on someone who committed a crime, you label them as a danger to warn others. I suppose we should do away with terms like criminal or felon, or burglar.

"They're not criminals, they're just people who commit crimes"
"They're not felons, they're just people who commit serious crimes"
"They're not burglars, they just like to borrow things for extended periods of time without notifying the owner"

This is ridiculous

 

[Trust Me I Know]

Nuke Denver.

 

[DumbDude42]

"receiving treatement"
what treatment? there is no treatment. conversion therapy doesn't work. 'born this way' and all that, you know.

 

[Charles P. Scene]

What I did was not too kind, but I'm a nice guy you'll come to find
Got a backyard and a real nice pool, y'all should come over for a barbecue
We can make some cold drinks in my blender, but do keep in mind that I'm an adult who has committed sexual offenses

Doesn't have as much of a ring to it.

 

[MarvinTheParanoidAndroid]

In the end, the board voted 10-6 to go with “adults who commit sexual offenses.”

I think this is the point where I should just unplug from the world. There is no logic behind this change whatsoever & it accomplishes nothing for anybody but the sex offender. There needs to be a new term for this, I call it "inane-insanity."

Sex offender.
Sex offender.
Sex offender.
Sex offender.
Sex offender.

Does that offend you? Good.

“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.”

No. You can't do both. You can't excuse away the crimes of the criminal while placating the victim, this is not a misunderstanding, this is an affront to any notion of justice a normal person might have.

 

[Beautiful Border]

It's supposed to be a negative label, for fuck's sake.

 

[Vlinny-kun]

Meanwhile, a task force charged with sentencing reform is considering asking the legislature to change terms like “defendant,” “convict,” and “felon” to “justice-involved people.”

Why? So you can claim in a few years that "justice-involved people" is to demeaning to rapists and murderers and that we need to call them something else now?

 

[IKOL]

Flammenwerfer awaits, Denver.

 

[White Trash Motorsport]

Derek Logue says he shouldn’t have to carry the label for life, “Referring to me by a label for something I did half my life ago is inappropriate and downright offensive.”

How about ‘total piece of shit’, Derek? How does that suit you?

 

[No. 7 cat]

"receiving treatement"
what treatment? there is no treatment. conversion therapy doesn't work. 'born this way' and all that, you know.

The rope is treatment, and it works.

 

[Rei is shit]

The new term is basically a short definition of the old one. I love this insane split the baby compromise shit that results in no real change. Gotta justify all that buearacracy somehow.

 

[The Foldless Brain]

"Person of Sex Offense" POSs for short.

 

[Dyn]

This is fine though, treatment providers should just refer to them as 'clients' because that's what they are to them. The rest of us can continue calling them sex predators.

"receiving treatement"
what treatment? there is no treatment. conversion therapy doesn't work. 'born this way' and all that, you know.

Pretty sure they're talking about the people who enforce compliance with court orders and make sure they don't move next to schools and shit like that.

 

[Overly Serious]

It's supposed to be a negative label, for fuck's sake.

I think some ostensibly intelligent people actually have an issue where they can't distinguish the map (no pun intended) from the territory. If you change the name of something, they seem to think the function will follow. I think they genuinely don't believe in individual agency because they themselves orient their behaviour so much by the society around them. Therefore the sexual offender isn't like that through choice but have been made that way by a society around them and relabelling them will change their relationship to society and thus who they are. That seems to be how they think.

Anyway, just leaving this here...