Catron says proposed sex offenders list misses point

(CNS): In the wake of the government’s announcement that it will be establishing a closed paedophile register, political candidate for Bodden Town and long time advocate for an open list Sandra Catron has described Minister for Health Anthony Eden’s proposed register as a disappointment because it does not change anything. “It only codifies what is currently occurring and in my viewpoint this is a complete waste of time,” she said.

She explained that, as this register is intended merely for the use of agencies and departments involved, ones that already have access to information, such as the police and the Department of Children and Family Services, “It simply does not make any sense.” Catron said that the goal of the campaign which she started has been missed. “The register has to be very clear. The aim and objective is to warn people of offenders who have committed an illegal act of rape or sexual assault.”

Last week Eden told the Legislative Assembly that the Sex Offender Registry Bill (2009) had been put out for a 60–day public consultation and would be the country’s first list tracking those convicted of sex crimes including rape, indecent assault, defilement, and incest. Convicted sex offenders would be required to register their names, home addresses, workplace, and details of property which they own. The wider public, however, will not have access to the list, which also proposes registering people convicted of  what were described as “unnatural offences” as defined under the Penal Code such as sodomy.

The proposals states that sex offenders assigned to the registry would have their photographs and fingerprints taken, and may be asked to provide a DNA sample — details one would assume the police would already have if the offender has been convicted. Moreover, the proposal does not state which government entity would be responsible for managing the register.

Catron said that a realistic debate was required to look at this issue properly. “We have put the cart before the horse in what seems to be an election response. Careful consideration should be given to how this is going to be organized and maintained. I believe that the most equipped persons to manage such a database would be someone in the judicial department. Clear policies for how persons are added and possibly removed are also important,” she said.

Catron said there were a number of ways that an effective register could work including ranking the seriousness of the offence so that some people are never removed given the type of offense that they have engaged in.  Believing that sex offenders are rarely rehabilitated, Catron stated that Cayman need to have experts on hand to speak about this. She said there was a need to follow the ongoing research and debates concerning how long offenders should be registered.

“Certainly any abuser of children should remain on the site indefinitely,” she added. “My petition attempted a more holistic approach. The registry was only one component. International cooperation, stiffer penalties, prevention and education were also in the petition. This law does not address any of those issues in a comprehensive manner. “

Catron noted that a holistic approach is what would be more beneficial. “Offenders should be prevented from applying for jobs that put them in direct contact with children – for example, schools, school buses, coaches etc,” she said.

With myriad issues to deal with regarding child sex offenders, another issue which could not be ignored was the problem of juvenile on juvenile abuse and serious education strategies are needed to tackle that problem, Catron noted. “Our preventative talks normally tell children that adults should not be inappropriate with them but does not speak about other children their age or older.”

Facing criticisms that an offenders registers can drive paedophiles underground, Catron argued that at present these people are in our community without any kind of monitoring. She said a public register was a powerful tool that allowed for people to be known who have committed the most heinous of acts.

“It would protect everyone in Cayman, especially our more transient population. We also need to have access to other registers overseas linked with ours so that we know if someone has entered our jurisdiction and committed this offense elsewhere. There are many creative arguments for not having this database, however, every time Ihave a victim come forward and express how their lives have been impacted by this type of abuse I find the resolve to continue to fight for the voiceless,” Catron said.

The petition asking for a public register has been signed by almost 1000 people — a significant amount for Cayman. “For government to respond in such a non-sincere manner is heart wrenching for me and it demonstrates that the powers that be really do not have a true commitment to protecting our children,” she added.

The petition is available at www.caymansexoffenders.org