Restorative Justice for Sex Offenders - Alissa Ackerman

Dr. Alissa R. Ackerman offers a new perspective on restorative justice and how it can help those who suffered from sexual assault. With her personal experience, she shares with everyone the true importance of engaging in difficult conversations to heal from intimate harm.
Dr. Alissa R. Ackerman is a criminal justice professor at California State University, Fullerton, where she specializes in the study of sexual violence. For almost 15 years, Dr. Ackerman has devoted her career to better understanding how to prevent sexual misconduct of all kinds. Her research and advocacy work are nationally and internationally recognized and she writes extensively on topics related to gender-based violence and restorative justice. Her newest books include The New Campus Anti-Rape Movement: Internet Activist and Social Justice and Sex and Gender in the 2016 Election.

[@GirlofNicky]

Kudos to her for studying this sensitive subject. Laws need to be based on science not emotions.

[@AlanWangVideos]

💯

[@reviewgeek6162]

Obviously democrats don't believe in science like they claim. Biden was in favor of sex offender registration so was Clinton but Biden loves little girls so let's watch him. I won't let him around my children for sure. Jill Biden needs to watch him and Clinton around there friends. Obama not sure I haven't seen much on him except he is a dork. I never voted for them. Bush he died bless his sick motives touching a girl's arse while president. #woke #abusers

[@theluckiesteh9058]

It's hard to forgive those who commit a crime of that nature.... but sometimes, it's not impossible. There are people who truly deserves to make things right for themselves, their victim and everybody else. Compassion and forgiveness is not a weakness to those who are remorseful and wish to do good.

[@SD_Chosen]

You Couldn't Have Said That Better, I Have Been Hoping and Praying to Turn My Life Around that Was Too Far Gone...To Know You Are Forgiven, Gives Hope That Change is Even Possible... With God All Things Are Possible

[@davidowen3036]

Many people believe that to forgive you must forget. How could the victims possibly do that. What forgiveness is all about is being able to remove the emotions from those memories. Specifically, forgiveness is more for the forgiver than the intended forgiven. I had a very hard time forgiving myself for what I had done. About 3 months into my jail time, I sat down and wrote the names of all the people I may have negatively affected. It came to 65 people, family, friends, co-workers, all directly or even indirectly were impacted by my actions. That was unacceptable and I carried that self-hatred for years. There is a passage in 1John in the New Testament: "For if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything." For ME, that greatly impacted me. My heart was certainly condemning me. If God is greater than my own condemnation and He knows everythiing, who am I to question that. The was my first step to forgiveness, and when I purged the emotion of my own actions, I began to see what the victims must be going through. I was not in my right mind. Three years with a psychologist showed me I suffered from clinicl depression. I talked to my youngest son not too long ago to keep him in the loop about the court date and I expressed how the victims would get closure or if they had already. He respectfully and lovingly reminded me that their closure would not be dependent on me showing up to help. He was right.

[@krislarsen6546]

I agree..... And when it comes to crimes of this nature people don't want Justice they want revenge. Trust me it's not the same thing

[@redeemingpatriot3487]

​@Kris Larsen hmmmm maybe its possible as long as people get healing without being TOO vengeful

[@krislarsen6546]

@@redeemingpatriot3487 it's possible yes but it's a hard thing to balance. And then all depends if the victim is a highly emotional person.

[@Nightmarefuel66]

The law gives a false sense of security as well. Knowing where they live...WONT STOP THEM FROM COMING TO YOUR HOME AND DOING GOD KNOWS WHAT!!! Keeping them marginalized and labeled and held down will only leave them with nothing to lose and, thus, more likely to reoffend. Use common sense for once.

[@ataraxia7439]

I wish I was raised in a world where people were more compassionate. I could have moved on and healed from so many things so idk quicker if the first impulse of everyone around me wasn’t to hurt the person who wronged me every-time it happened.

[@redeemingpatriot3487]

Join the club

[@redeemingpatriot3487]

We can do both

[@user-rm3ky3hv7s]

This woman has gained incredible insight. She is definitely on the right track, for healing and change!

[@riseoverhere3054]

That’s the only way it will work.

[@barrypeterson6725]

Totally agree with this!

[@joschawil]

Any organization with attempts to abolish the registry are to be respected. Any groups attempting to defer or augment the registry are not to be trusted. They sound like someone blaming someone else for their punishment.

[@itszach6808]

Sex offender defender is not a good thing. Make the registry more stringent.

[@joschawil]

Is the registry Legal? Or is it illegal? Does it violate the World Human Rights Commission's regulations? Or should the World Human Rights Commission come down and arrest and incarcerate those who enforce it? Constitution: "Among these inalienable rights are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 1.) Are those on the registry robbed of inalienable rights of Life-No unless they are murdered for being on the registryg-then, Yes. [INALIENABLE is defined as never being taken away nor given up, inalienable] 2.) Are those on the registry robbed of inalienable right to Liberty? (Liberty is Freedom, to do what? Everything everyone else is allowed to do.) Being restricted from any institution is a violation of this inalienable right. Being forced to move or be restricted from living anywhere they want to or work anywhere they want to is a violation of the Inalienable Rights to Liberty. 3. I'll just ask straight up. Do you believe thos on the registry or their neighbors and family are enjoying that inalienable right to happiness? Ok. To brass tacks. The Constitution Trumps all laws. The Constitution guarantees the right to privacy and to be secure in ones papers. Does the registry violate this right? [There are others too.] You dont know how to defend that one. Moving on. Is the registry legal? "Any law repugnant to the Constitution is null and void." Marbury vs. Madison 5US (Cranch) 137, 161, 167. (1803). Justice Marshall of the case overturned law enacted by Congress and signed by the President. This case-law has never been overturned. Why? Because the Constitution trumps all laws. Does the registry violate the orders of the World Human Rights Commission? 1.) Let's takes examples and well find out how others fared. Hitlers men were found after investigation to be hiding in South America decades after their crimes in Germany and other parts. What were their crimes? They took people from their homes and forced them to live in concentration camps, and treating them like garbage. The state of Florida has Televised that their state assembly members do not want those on the registry to be living in townships. Those taken by Hitler were given no care for their health and welfare. In short, these were ongoing experiments of the strength of humans. Sending person to live under bridges, in the Everglades, and in encampments shows that Florida and other states are conducting human experiments by providing nothing for these people, and treating them like garbage. Now, defend your response. Your opinion means nothing as everyone has one. You can quote law (as long as it is legal), You can quote history-of the US or any other nation.And you can quote any authority that doesnt violate law.You will find none.

[@johnmurphy1599]

Speaking facts! The problem like many other issues today is once emotions flare up intelligence and objectiveness goes down and it's hard to convince someone who's emotionally caught up to take in or be able to process any data other than whatever worst case scenario their mind is imagining. Sex offenders as a whole have the lowest rate of recidivism besides individuals convicted of homicide. I know of two people I grew up with who are on the registry and obviously what they did was wrong but so is domestic violence or home invasion but apparently running up in someone's home with a weapon and holding up a family or beating mom up repeatedly is less of a concern than a statutory rape case. Sexual conversations are uncomfortable for a lot of people understandably but it's beyond obvious that subjective emotional based reasoning created the registry and policies around it that like she stated doesn't do a damn thing to reduce sex crimes, check the numbers annually since it's inception if you don't believe me. It's waste of tax dollars due to the fact it isn't achieving even remotely what the proposals and people who worked to create and pass these laws envisioned. I see the registry like the Karen of government policies... Allows emotions to take the reigns and believes they are making things better when in reality it's making a scene and laughably ineffective at accomplishing a goal. And anyone who has done even the slightest bit of research and is capable of critical thinking would see the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. But like COVID or the war on drugs, so long as people are afraid, they will be easily manipulated. Pretty basic stuff but that's why it's th oldest play in the book but still works like a charm.

[@weirdnerdygoat]

Thank you, this is so amazing and exactly what I've been looking for to deal with my own experieces!

[@suetownsend1656]

The world needs more people like this.

[@riseoverhere3054]

Yes

[@seattlejayde]

This lady is wicked intelligent and compassionate

[@riseoverhere3054]

We need more people like this.

[@seanofl]

Current registries are punitive and easy political wins but they don't protect the public. Thank you for sharing what you've learned.

[@HesperianHorsePower]

How can you say they don’t protect communities? Stats? Just because sex offenders still exist doesn’t mean registries don’t help prevent crime. It’s hard to prove a negative.

[@2024goppresident-ow1ds]

Leave the protecting of the public to law enforcement, not the state prison adult parole and probation departments, the protecting of the community is for law enforcement personnel, and protective services, the registry causes more harm than good and everyone deserves to be and feel safe.

[@2024goppresident-ow1ds]

This individual is good , but I know individuals that have been wrongly accused of a sex crime and this is terrible , because of not having proper representation and the court system in Tennessee going by hear-say , no real evidence in the case. This is wrong and not justice.

[@2024goppresident-ow1ds]

This extreme punitive treatment of the life-time supervision is wrong and unconstitutional as well as ex post facto clause, meaning double jeopardy , and tennesee making up and changing the punishments as they go along is unconstitutional and injustice , as well as against federal laws.

[@davidowen3036]

Very soon, within the next 30 days, I have the opportunity to terminate my probation at the half-way point which will be June 21 of this year of a 15 years sentence, having been released from prison on December 21, 2014. My public defender in Miami-Dade county (where I had committed my crimes) has already written the petition and has submitted it to a particular judge. Very shortly, within the next week of this writing, she will advise me as to the direction this petition is going. In 2017, I was allowed internet access under strict monitoringl. Three months later, my psychologist (a mandatory part of my probation at my expense) released me from that monitoring and I was able to continue my internet usage unfettered. In 2018, I was released from my obligation to my psychologist and at the same time, I no longer had to take an annual polygraph examination (basically to determine flight risk more than anything else). The only remaining restriction, if you will, is the court ordered ankle monitor and corresponding hand-held device. Once I am granted the early termination, the ankle monitor will be removed. The residenccy restrictions and the registration I have been doing every quarter at the Sheriff's office will continue. Any place I go to visit for a few days I must go to the local Sheriffs office and register the address at which I am staying is mandatory. I am still not allowed to contact my 2 victims who are adults now. I will never have the opportunity to apologize for my actions toward either of them. And I wonder, where is the closure for them? And I realize that this termination of probation is, in reality, a Pyrrhic Victory only. I am 69 years old with End Stage Renal Disease and have been taking dialysis for the last 7 years from March of 2015 (3 months after I was released from prison). I spent 4 months in the hospital having been given only a 10% chance of survival. Once released from the hospital in July 2015, I was released in a wheelchair, then a walker two months later, and then I had the ability to walk on my own two months after that. Although I was assigned a home health care nurse, I barely saw her. She was apprehensive going into an ex-cons house once she was advised the kind of crimes I had committed. Five grandchildren were born while I was incarcerated (2006-2014 jail and prison time combined). The two oldest was told by "the other side of the family" what I had done. They want to see me anyway, and that's heart. I learned quite a while back that around 92% or more sex offenders are people who live in the house with the potential victims or ar friends of the family who visit regularly. The residency restrictions do NOT apply to that percentage. They do NOT work the way politicians intends them to work and placate the public. I was one of those classic examples you mentioned. From the age of 6, I could remember my mom and dad yelling at each other behind closed bedroom doors. I felt disconnected, as you've pointed out. My psychologist (when I was released from prison) after giving me three writing exercises, diagnosed me with clinical depression. The "laundry list" of that condition checked all the boxes on the list. I am relelived from those conditions and have been since 2018. The idea of re-offending is no longer an issue knowing what I know. I will live on, with the 1/3 of the family who forgave me my transgressions. I learned a long time ago that forgiveness does not mean forgetting. Forgiveness is the discipline of removing the emotion from those memories. It actually helps the forgiver rather than the forgiven.

[@FloridaActionCommittee]

Good luck to you!

[@user-up3rt5gb9i]

Thank you for researching this and understanding the shame, isolation and trauma the laws put on those who are justice involved.

[@HesperianHorsePower]

Justice involved is sidespeak for CRIMINAL! Just call it what it is.

[@defco89]

Dont think registries should be abolished. They need to be refined to only include accurate classification of *_violent_* tier 3 offenses involving child victims and adult rape.

[@leonardodalongisland]

EXACTLY

[@PieInTheSky9]

What if they change, become better people, and have zero chance of reoffending?

[@defco89]

@@PieInTheSky9 They should remain on the registry but maybe designated a reduced threat after 10/15/20 year intervals. It's well known that the recidivism rate for violent sexual predators is extremely high so the threat persists throughout their entire lives.

[@PieInTheSky9]

@@defco89 the recidivism rate for any sexual predator is actually really low, the second lowest next to murder. Recidivism being high is demonstrably incorrect. So why are these people being singled out?

[@defco89]

@@PieInTheSky9 they are being singled out because, like murder, the damage is irreparable to the victim !!! the recidivism rate is low for first time offenders but inexorably high for repeat offenders !!! which is why the registry exists... it's a 'wait and see' observation list... so if they don't repeat they get removed... but repeat offenders are on for LIFE !!!

[@RvanderWall]

Just seeing this now, Alissa. God damn! Powerful presentation!

[@derekc2042]

Jesus healed them because he had compassion and it's only compassion that will prevent , heal redeem and reduce recivedism period

[@redeemingpatriot3487]

Im in

[@danielk8149]

But here's the deal it's a corporation if the laws change they won't get anymore donations

[@charliestanley2749]

Include abolishing the registry nationwide. It's abusive and punitive to both the victims and offenders. Plus, it serves no real purpose or benefit to society. Consider how sex offenders are managed in several European countries.....registries have been tried then abolished. The facts speak for themselves.

[@danielroy8232]

restorative justice requires participation from the victim. what do you do if the victim wants no part in it?

[@riseoverhere3054]

Then move on or offer to financially compensate the victim if they can afford too.

[@eddiegranberry5276]

the best thing is to give her or him justice because that person was scared for what the other person did and put him or her behind bars and make them serve their time for what they did and when they get out then let them accommodate their victims.

[@leonardodalongisland]

It doesn't happen

[@user-up3rt5gb9i]

Connection over Compliance.

[@gooneywagner1201]

I respect you just listening to your video honestly, touch my heart I think it’s sad that sex offenders have to be treated like aliens, or taken back to the old days and treated like slaves when deep down the side, they have their own trauma and they were treated in a sexual way when they were sexually assaulted as a child but that part is not looked at it looked at the crime that they can meet us an adult that way the person that did them Brown gets a child don’t have to be looked at and those people maybe have sex with a person two years younger than them have to deal with the rest of their life being a sex offender or something that was consensual and I agreed upon, especially if they didn’t violently take someone sexual ability, but they have to live the rest life being judged by others and treated like they murdered someone. I agree with protecting the community and protecting the children but if a person gets a sexual charge with they’re young and they never ever catch another charge as an adult you shouldn’t have to judge them and treat them like alien.

[@snowleopardmc.rattiedaddy9324]

It's not the sex offenders who need justice, it's the victims.

[@eddiegranberry5276]

your right but you gotta think in terms of children who has done these heinous acts like what do you think of them

[@snowleopardmc.rattiedaddy9324]

@@eddiegranberry5276 How old are they?

[@eddiegranberry5276]

@@snowleopardmc.rattiedaddy9324 under the age of 18.....10 11...12....13

[@alondrazharick9544]

@@eddiegranberry5276Completely different topic.

[@user-ns8ht6iu4p]

Offenders need justice as well, it's a two party thing. Offenders have an opportunity to pay their debts so to say which can give them a sense of closure to their wrongdoings and allow them to move on as a better person.

[@boldwarrior2196]

Ty so much

[@whitelivesmatter2396]

Am thing is this am a survivor of rape and molestation as a child my rape could have been avoided if I had known that he had three other victims but he was not on the registry so I didn’t know who he really was that is why it is extremely important that we know who these people are some women such as this one giving the talk are not bothered by it and would be willing to run the risk of being assaulted by one of them me not so much but we should have the right to make that decision

[@WilliamBarrs]

Thank you so much for your bravery,and your wisdom

[@AlisonFoley1]

I agree with you but some of these offenders are so caught up in their own ways of thinking they don't even realize it's wrong..some criminals are hard to reach

[@martinkaye6397]

i am starting an international petition to make these laws more sensible and into laws that can be used in a modern democratic, because at the moment i think they went out when we stopped throwin people to the lions. and i would be most glad of your signature. on: "reform sex offender law for a more effective system" - change

[@joschawil]

How about learning law and devising how YOU would like to punish people

[@phoque4611]

I think most cases happen due to childhood sexual trauma.

[@user-mo3iq7vf4q]

@Brown Incel do they deserve forgiveness if they watched cp because of trauma

[@redeemingpatriot3487]

​@Brown Incel hmmmm it needs to be said if the person did the harm they should be the one to heal that person

[@somapersona]

Caused by childhood sexual predators that weren't punished....

[@redeemingpatriot3487]

@@somapersona thats sadly true that or those that were unaware that was predatory itself, some people were never helped or educated on this stuff

[@nickdelaney6953]

​@@somapersonaproves the list doesn't work

[@pratical_indifference]

How does a person get put on one of these lists?

[@redeemingpatriot3487]

interesting

[@loydtalley4002]

So my question is where do they learn those types of behaviors especially when you have kids that are sexually offending where do those kids learn that type of behavior cuz I don't foresee that just being something like you wake up one day and be like oh hey I think I'm going to do this. For somebody to do something that to another human being that behavior are those thoughts or ideas would have to be learned or taught. At least I would think. Moreover why aren't we as professionals and the public sitting down and asking these individuals that have done these heinous crimes like this ask them what drove you to do it what made you do it why do you do it. Sure that'll be a very tense interview a very tense situation it's going to make us angry what they might have to say but if we can get inside the mind and understand what makes these people tick then we can start to understand on how to better prevent or treat these people to detour them to not commit these heinous acts. I mean this is the 2020 we should college skill set and tools to be able to psychologically analyze with human biology why somebody thinks something like that is okay and what drives them to do it. Because every crime whether it be a sex offense crime a drug crime property crime any crime that is committed For the most part is all psychological you have to have thoughts and feelings to act on why can't we change people's thoughts and feelings you can. It's just this particular subject is very sensitive and sticky and hurtful and most people don't want to take on that type of monster. And like I said this is all from my view of things because of the field of work I'm in doing psychobiology Moreover there might be certain people out there that commit these heinous crimes that can't be helped cuz they might have a psychological issue or behavioral deficit but I firmly still believe that even with those issues they can be not fixed but managed to where those behaviors don't happen and those thoughts don't appear anymore

[@maggiesfloridaliving1272]

Can you help me

[@dynamiclizard1098]

Is everything alright?

[@HesperianHorsePower]

How do you even know whether or not the registry prevents sex crimes? How can it be proven. There will always be sex offenders. No denying that but tying a rise in reported sex crimes to an introduction of a registry as proof it’s “laughable” in preventing crime is pretty weak. These registries weren’t solely created to prevent anything. They were created to give law abiding citizens a choice on who they let into their lives and where they choose to live them.

[@Regansaidso]

Everyone in this comment section should be on a watch list

[@jaime4290]

and that watch list would include you.

[@alondrazharick9544]

Agreed

[@alondrazharick9544]

⁠@@jaime4290We dont pray on children unlike you

[@IndianCurrycel]

Nope it’s unconstitutional to be on a watchlist

[@Verkinggettorix]

Pretty lame that KZbin or this channel deleted my comment….I think we all know which side your on

[@shadowwarrior2793]

Stop supporting offenders; they are not victims.

[@IndianCurrycel]

Offenders are victims because they get discriminated and assaulted since they have sex crimes and inmates and free world citizens hate sex offenders

[@sylvistadogwright1203]

Do you see the amount of comments supporting this

[@lynnes5980]

Welp. 3 minutes left to share your strategy. …

[@Nimish204]

What if the victim is out for blood?

[@Nightmarefuel66]

Yeah what if the 'victim' was/is a liar??? What if the "pervert", the "sicko" is an innocent person who was FORCED into a plea deal under threat of decades upon decades in prison? What about the fact that most cases that don't involve alleged penetration don't require any evidence, only an accusation to get a conviction? You know, he said she said and he said that she said he was guilty so he must be! Pathetic justice system makes me SICK!!! How many people have been screwed by the guilty until proven innocent mindset that more often than not goes along with an accusation? I do not support Megan's law at all. And I don't give a FUCK who doesn't like it.

[@greenishpiss3588]

Then let em' have it, baby!

[@weirdnerdygoat]

However understandable that may be, that is definitely something that should be worked through in therapy- long term intense urges for revenge like this tend to be very unhealthy

[@geroldgrimel4811]

4:20 "It makes sense to me why I have been called an S.O. lover and a Rp apologist." Wtf? Why would that make sense?! A playground bully could find more sophisticated insults! Why would you pardon that idiotic mockery as being understandable?!

[@davidgafo]

Send her an email and ask her.

[@riseoverhere3054]

Yes I understand I use logic such as believing that instead of giving the death penalty or some sick folks who believe in torturing dangerous SOs like child predators or rapists who are non repentant in my belief or opinion we can turn the non repentant child predators and rapists into vegetable right away ie prefrontal lobotomy which is more humane and leave them in separate mental facility like an insane asylum. I been called an idiot or pedo sympathizer/defender which doesn’t make any sense to me.

[@geroldgrimel4811]

@@riseoverhere3054 How about complete decriminalization? See, I know for sure that you're trolling, but you'll always wonder if I am.

[@riseoverhere3054]

@@geroldgrimel4811 yes completely decriminalizing two teenagers in a relationship and decriminalizing public urination is a good idea.

[@geroldgrimel4811]

@@riseoverhere3054 You know that's not what I meant. lol

[@destroyingfear777]

SIN

[@nafisahoque760]

U r ignorant about this . No . Some don't deserve kindness and that's how empaths gets taken advantage of. No . Absolutely no , they should be given torture and death penalty so these people cannot harm others not the victims again

[@nafisahoque760]

@@waltergeorge9617 Hon don't say these things to someone who actually have gone through this . So don't say things nonsense to people who knows what they talking about

[@waltergeorge9617]

@@nafisahoque760 I'm sorry I must have misunderstood 😔

[@waltergeorge9617]

Isn't torture and Death a Radical Extremism though ? Why the Hate Cancel Mentalities ?? Yeah they Fucked up, BUT LETS REMEMBER, WE ARE ALL VICTIMS OF OTHERS VICTIMS, SO HOW WE PROPER STOP ABUSE, INSTEAD OF KILL ? Two Wrongs don't make anything right ???

[@waltergeorge9617]

Dog that bite you, not bad, it a victim too, So you kill dog ??

[@AZ-JKUR-HR]

@@nafisahoque760 so...me as a s.o. should be killed. What about the two women that molested me when I was 5? Almost all s.o. have been molested. Vicious circle. So we'll kill all then. Oh that day is coming......

[@lynnes5980]

Ok, so exposure therapy. Got it.

[@gabbelol580]

“statutory rape” isn’t rape this crime should just be abolished completely going to jail for consensual sex is ridicules the “victim” literally wanted it dosent matter for example if a young girl wants to have sex with an older guy there’s nothing wrong with that they both consented he’s not a “monster” and she definitely isn’t a “victim” even calling her that is disrespectful to victim of actual crimes like murder, robbery, forced rape etc

[@greenishpiss3588]

Children aren't mature enough to interact with someone older like that

[@redeemingpatriot3487]

​@@greenishpiss3588thank you

[@alondrazharick9544]

Children cannot consent you are pedophile if you think they can.

[@salvador8923]

Children cannot consent, what don’t you understand about that?

[@Lynk-gq2bb]

Nope! Death penalty for all offenders !!!! NO TOLERANCE

[@alondrazharick9544]

Yep