Helpline for Potential Sex Offenders

About two weeks ago, Sweden was traumatised by the brutal killing of a 10-year-old girl named Engla. The killer was caught a few days later, and during investigation, it became known he was something of a serial rapist and murderer. The man, 42-year-old Anders Eklund, has confessed to killing another woman, and the police suspect he might be responsible for the death of several other women.

After the first chock, some are now debating the repeated pattern of violent rapists, paedophiles, and sadists. As expected, the first reaction of the mob is to call for tougher sentences and even capital punishment reintroduced. But it is highly unlikely more prison time would deter any one of these men from raping and killing women and children. In fact, I think it might have the opposite effect, as there would no longer be any real difference between raping and killing. Life in prison would be the outcome regardless.

Yesterday I learned that the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (RFSU) has suggested a national helpline for potential sex offenders. I think this is an excellent idea. From The Local:

The helpline will be there for presumptive sex offenders that feel obsessive thoughts and want to prevent their thoughts from turning into compulsive actions. This way children and women could be better protected from potential offenders.

“There are those that are borderline, who have obsessive compulsive disorders. They feel the impulses but can’t manage them. They should then have the possibility to call from wherever they are in the country to seek help to overcome these thoughts,” said Åsa Regnér, Secretary General of RFSU.

Speaking at RFSU’s conference in Gothenburg, Regnér continued to say that, “it could prevent these type of offences which would otherwise have such terrible consequences.”

[…]

“The point is that it should be national and staffed 24/7 by people who are trained to handle these kinds of issues. They could give emergency assistance and also refer callers for further help, depending on where in the country they live,” said Regnér.

This is a much better preventive approach to the problem than any prison sentence would be.