Though this blog is was originally intended as a resource for offenders in Massachusetts, much of what I write about is applicable to sex offenders in every other state and many countries around the world, especially in Western Europe. Even other non-sex offenders trying to navigate prison, probation and parole, or employment and education opportunities can glean relevant information from this blog and apply it to help overcome their own struggles.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

YMCAs begin to screen for sex offenders

This is an issue that came up in the beginning of January I wanted to comment on.
Here's the article:  YMCAs begin to screen for sex offenders
I am not a YMCA member, but this banning business is frustrating and crazy, in my opinion.

So the YMCA implemented this policy after a girls basketball coach, who was not a convicted sex offender when he was hired or when coaching, plead guilty to various sex offenses with young girls. I suppose the Y feels they have to do something showing they are "protecting" members, especially since it's less of a traditional gym and more of a mixed adult/kids place, but chalk this up as another reactive policy to sex offenders.

The Y is instituting a policy that doesn't directly address how they could have let a coach with a clean record come in and coach young girls he ended up offending against.  If the Y needs to find sex offenders among their members and staff, the only way to be sure is to have staff (this offender could be considered staff) and members undergo a thorough evaluation including personality testing, penile plethysmography, the female equivalent to a penile plethysmograph, and attentional evaluation to deviant stimuli.  Just ranting but what the hell...

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