Church of England Comments on Paedophile Sentencing Stir Controversy

The Church of England Advisor on Child Protection has controversially urged that courts should consider not imprisoning paedophiles. Janet Hind has said that community rehabilitation orders were a much more effective way of dealing with sex offenders than jailing them.

The statement has angered a number of campaigners that are fighting for longer jail sentences for paedophiles.

Hind reported in an interview with The Observer, “People can be reinforced in their behaviours by being with other offenders. Many sex offenders end up in prison with other sex offenders, which can encourage their offending thoughts and fantasies, whereas a good treatment and supervision programme in the community can be more helpful in the long run for the protection of children.”