So it's been almost 20 years since Peter E. Benjamin had left prison, completed a vigorous sex offender treatment program, and rebuilt his life and professional career. Though he has garnered the attention of zero complaints of inappropriate behavior with his work at the New England Conservatory or any of his other clients over those two decades, it was determined Mr. Benjamin was too dangerous and, no doubt, too much bad press for the NEC continue to contract the services of this level 2 registered sex offender. It's not a stretch to think that many of his other clients and prospects will follow in the footsteps of the Conservatory. To think he was an immediate danger to minors at NEC is assuming too much.
As someone who is about 15 years on from my offense, what concerns me is the incorrect and baseless public belief of perpetual dangerousness for all who have committed a sex offense against a minor, that I'm always on the cusp of reoffending against another child if I were put in an opportune position for a moment. Those who work with sex offenders and know the research and literature know this simply is not the case and that level of dangerousness is only pertinent to a fractional percentage of sex offenders. Yeah, Mr. Benjamin was being risky by working around minors in some fashion - being risky more so with his career rather than re-offendeing (its been reported on thebostonchannel.com 90% of his time was spent with graduate students). His story is a not-so secret fear of and a cautionary tale for many registered sex offenders who rehabilitate and work to create a new, happy and prosperous life for themselves. I hope that Mr. Benjamin avoids the social and professional death that can come with this recent attention, carrying on with a life and career in Boston he rebuilt with the help of others. We should all want any type of offender to rehabilitate, reintegrate, and lead happy, productive and healthy lives, contributing to the community in which we live.
As someone who is about 15 years on from my offense, what concerns me is the incorrect and baseless public belief of perpetual dangerousness for all who have committed a sex offense against a minor, that I'm always on the cusp of reoffending against another child if I were put in an opportune position for a moment. Those who work with sex offenders and know the research and literature know this simply is not the case and that level of dangerousness is only pertinent to a fractional percentage of sex offenders. Yeah, Mr. Benjamin was being risky by working around minors in some fashion - being risky more so with his career rather than re-offendeing (its been reported on thebostonchannel.com 90% of his time was spent with graduate students). His story is a not-so secret fear of and a cautionary tale for many registered sex offenders who rehabilitate and work to create a new, happy and prosperous life for themselves. I hope that Mr. Benjamin avoids the social and professional death that can come with this recent attention, carrying on with a life and career in Boston he rebuilt with the help of others. We should all want any type of offender to rehabilitate, reintegrate, and lead happy, productive and healthy lives, contributing to the community in which we live.
Readers Note: I don't usually publish the names of other local sex offenders on my blog but this story is very public and front page news from the regions largest newspaper.
Richard, we have known Peter for many years. He could be the poster child for rehabilitation. His firing, and the firing of Benjamin Zander, is shocking.
ReplyDeleteWe live in troubled times.
-Bob Chatelle
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteHow things went down for those two men is troubling, especially taking into consideration the community in which they function.
-Richard
Sex offender laws are not protecting the society and children, they are destroying natural sexuality and people ho have real human feelings. These laws are based on gender hypocrisy.
ReplyDelete