Removal of “no known cure” in house bill reduces SOMB’s power to prioritize public safety

Mar 22 2010

House Bill 10-1364 is scheduled to be heard at the House Judiciary Committee at the Colorado capitol building the afternoon of Thursday, March 25. The bill deals in part with whether to keep the words "no known cure" in an existing statute governing Colorado's Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB). The SOMB oversees the state's treatment program for sex offenders.

“Why is it necessary to have the statute direct the specific orientation of treatment?”

A growing group called the No Known Cure group including Greig Veeder, executive director of Teaching Humane Existence (T.H.E.), leading sex offender management professionals and concerned citizens, believe the bill itself is effective overall because it promotes the continuation of the SOMB. However, they believe the removal of the “no known cure” language reduces the SOMB’s power to prioritize public safety.

The SOMB's statute states that, "...the board shall develop and prescribe a standardized procedure for the evaluation and identification of sex offenders. Such procedure shall provide for an evaluation and identification of the offender and recommend behavior management, monitoring, and treatment based upon the knowledge that sex offenders are extremely habituated and that there is no known cure for the propensity to commit sex abuse."

It is important to note that the language is meant for the management of convicted, repeat adult sex offenders, not low-risk, one-time offenders, developmentally delayed adults, juveniles or women.

"The simple fact is if the house bill removes the three words 'no known cure' it diminishes the strength of our ability to treat, manage and contain convicted, adult repeat sex offenders," said Greig Veeder, executive director for T.H.E. and leading the charge to retain the language. "The people pushing to make this change are family members of sex offenders and defense attorneys. The ones who oppose the bill are committed to public safety and include state probation, Colorado Coalition Against Sex Assault, leading professionals in the field, concerned citizens and victims."

The No Known Cure group recently published a report for legislators with research showing that more than 50 percent of convicted adult sex offenders eventually sexually reoffend once they are removed from the confines of prison, probation and/or treatment.

The report answers the question: “Why is it necessary to have the statute direct the specific orientation of treatment?” It discusses the specific statutory language of “no known cure” and how it assures citizens that the legislators and all who follow the directives of the legislation understand the continuing nature of management and treatment that is needed. The citizens have a real stake in the policies, guiding principles and standards of the Sex Offender Management Board, and their only substantive means to express their will is through the statute.

Michelle Francis, a concerned citizen and part of the No Known Cure group said, “Anyone who cares about public safety should contact their legislative representative and attend the hearing to speak out against removal of this language. The only voice we citizens have in the management of sex offenders is through this statute. The public needs to tell legislators to keep the focus on public safety."

Source No Known Cure