This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/magazine/8004064.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Where they keep the paedophiles | Where they keep the paedophiles |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| California thinks it has found a way to deal with recidivist paedophiles by putting them in a comfortable mental hospital. Indefinitely. But is this the answer, asks Louis Theroux. | California thinks it has found a way to deal with recidivist paedophiles by putting them in a comfortable mental hospital. Indefinitely. But is this the answer, asks Louis Theroux. |
| I'd been at Coalinga a couple of days when Mr Rigby showed me his dormitory. He'd been a high school sports coach before being convicted of molesting some of his students. | I'd been at Coalinga a couple of days when Mr Rigby showed me his dormitory. He'd been a high school sports coach before being convicted of molesting some of his students. |
| He told me he was a great appreciator of the male physical form. | He told me he was a great appreciator of the male physical form. |
| FIND OUT MORE Louis Theroux: A Place for Paedophiles is on BBC Two on Sunday, 19 April November, at 2100 BSTCatch up at BBC iPlayer | FIND OUT MORE Louis Theroux: A Place for Paedophiles is on BBC Two on Sunday, 19 April November, at 2100 BSTCatch up at BBC iPlayer |
| Above his bed were photos of classical statues of male nudes. These gave me pause, since I knew some paedophiles like to justify their proclivities by citing the ancient Greeks' famous enthusiasm for pederasty. | Above his bed were photos of classical statues of male nudes. These gave me pause, since I knew some paedophiles like to justify their proclivities by citing the ancient Greeks' famous enthusiasm for pederasty. |
| There was also a reproduction of a painting of young male ballet dancers, which had a definite erotic overtone. I asked one of Mr Rigby's social workers, who was standing by, if it was okay for patients to have mildly sexual imagery on their walls, especially since it seemed to me it was in the area of the patient's offences. He said it was - "as long as they're of age". | There was also a reproduction of a painting of young male ballet dancers, which had a definite erotic overtone. I asked one of Mr Rigby's social workers, who was standing by, if it was okay for patients to have mildly sexual imagery on their walls, especially since it seemed to me it was in the area of the patient's offences. He said it was - "as long as they're of age". |
| Mr Rigby's room, which he shared with three other men, was airy and spacious. There was a large window with no bars on it. Mr Rigby had told me he was married with two sons, but that he'd also been in a physical relationship with another of the men at Coalinga, who was also a child molester. | Mr Rigby's room, which he shared with three other men, was airy and spacious. There was a large window with no bars on it. Mr Rigby had told me he was married with two sons, but that he'd also been in a physical relationship with another of the men at Coalinga, who was also a child molester. |
| Nice place | Nice place |
| This too, apparently, was not in violation of hospital rules. Mr Rigby's therapists told me he'd been making good progress in his rehabilitation. In theory, if he carried on with counselling and group sessions, he might be back outside in less than a year. | This too, apparently, was not in violation of hospital rules. Mr Rigby's therapists told me he'd been making good progress in his rehabilitation. In theory, if he carried on with counselling and group sessions, he might be back outside in less than a year. |
| One of the striking things about Coalinga, given that it houses 800 or so sex offenders, is how nice everything is. There is a large open indoor area - called "the mall" for its resemblance to a shopping mall - with a barbers shop and a cafe and a small library. | One of the striking things about Coalinga, given that it houses 800 or so sex offenders, is how nice everything is. There is a large open indoor area - called "the mall" for its resemblance to a shopping mall - with a barbers shop and a cafe and a small library. |
| The staff treat the patients with an occasionally over-the-top decorousness | The staff treat the patients with an occasionally over-the-top decorousness |
| You can spend time in the well-appointed gymnasium, where loud music plays over an indoor tennis court and a variety of exercise machines. You can drop in on an art therapy class or visit the music centre. All in all, you'd be forgiven for thinking it might be the newly built premises of a posh boarding school. | You can spend time in the well-appointed gymnasium, where loud music plays over an indoor tennis court and a variety of exercise machines. You can drop in on an art therapy class or visit the music centre. All in all, you'd be forgiven for thinking it might be the newly built premises of a posh boarding school. |
| In fact, Coalinga is something quite different - a maximum security hospital containing some of the state of California's more serious paedophiles and rapists. | In fact, Coalinga is something quite different - a maximum security hospital containing some of the state of California's more serious paedophiles and rapists. |
| Coalinga is the flagship of a relatively new programme created in response to public anxiety about the release of sexual predators from prison. All the men at Coalinga have completed their custodial terms, but instead of being released they've been diagnosed as mentally ill, and locked up again - this time indefinitely and not in prison but in hospital. | Coalinga is the flagship of a relatively new programme created in response to public anxiety about the release of sexual predators from prison. All the men at Coalinga have completed their custodial terms, but instead of being released they've been diagnosed as mentally ill, and locked up again - this time indefinitely and not in prison but in hospital. |
| Legal loophole | Legal loophole |
| The niceness of the surroundings at Coalinga is part of the package. The patients are not there to be punished. They have had their punishment in prison. The purpose of Coalinga is to try to make them mentally well. | The niceness of the surroundings at Coalinga is part of the package. The patients are not there to be punished. They have had their punishment in prison. The purpose of Coalinga is to try to make them mentally well. |
| In a sense, in creating Coalinga and other Civil Commitment Centres, the authorities have exploited a legal loophole. The public demanded that the state should lock up sex offenders for longer. But since they've done their time, the only way to keep them confined past their sentences is by hospitalising them. | In a sense, in creating Coalinga and other Civil Commitment Centres, the authorities have exploited a legal loophole. The public demanded that the state should lock up sex offenders for longer. But since they've done their time, the only way to keep them confined past their sentences is by hospitalising them. |
| Many of the patients do not agree to have therapy | Many of the patients do not agree to have therapy |
| On the one hand, the patients are legally classified as "sexually violent predators". They are behind high barbed-wire fences in a remote area of California. | On the one hand, the patients are legally classified as "sexually violent predators". They are behind high barbed-wire fences in a remote area of California. |
| On the other hand, the staff treat the patients with an occasionally over-the-top decorousness. The approved term for the confined men is "individuals", since the word "patients" is considered demeaning. In conversation, they are called "Mr". | On the other hand, the staff treat the patients with an occasionally over-the-top decorousness. The approved term for the confined men is "individuals", since the word "patients" is considered demeaning. In conversation, they are called "Mr". |
| No one can leave, but otherwise, the rules are surprisingly relaxed. Patients can vote in elections - one mentally ill rapist, who'd amputated his own toe in a protest against hospital policy, told me he'd voted for Obama. They can view pornography. There are no rules against watching TV shows with children in them or receiving DVDs on a children's theme. | No one can leave, but otherwise, the rules are surprisingly relaxed. Patients can vote in elections - one mentally ill rapist, who'd amputated his own toe in a protest against hospital policy, told me he'd voted for Obama. They can view pornography. There are no rules against watching TV shows with children in them or receiving DVDs on a children's theme. |
| One of the ways the hospital tries to foster a healthy ambience is by allowing regular social events. One night I attended the Coalinga Halloween party. I was treated to the surreal scene of 15 or so serious sex offenders singing the theme tune to the Addams Family. The following week was a talent show - billed as "Coalinga Idol". | One of the ways the hospital tries to foster a healthy ambience is by allowing regular social events. One night I attended the Coalinga Halloween party. I was treated to the surreal scene of 15 or so serious sex offenders singing the theme tune to the Addams Family. The following week was a talent show - billed as "Coalinga Idol". |
| No consensus | No consensus |
| The therapists and social workers have their work cut out for them. Using therapy to overcome phobias, anxiety, and addiction, is one thing. But the men at Coalinga are some way beyond that. | The therapists and social workers have their work cut out for them. Using therapy to overcome phobias, anxiety, and addiction, is one thing. But the men at Coalinga are some way beyond that. |
| Though no consensus exists as to whether paedophilia is genetic or environmental in origin, therapists at Coalinga agree that it can't really be cured. There is evidence to suggest that a sexual attraction to children may be an "orientation" and no easier to reprogramme in a person than, say, heterosexuality. | Though no consensus exists as to whether paedophilia is genetic or environmental in origin, therapists at Coalinga agree that it can't really be cured. There is evidence to suggest that a sexual attraction to children may be an "orientation" and no easier to reprogramme in a person than, say, heterosexuality. |
| The hospital is bright, airy and comfortable | The hospital is bright, airy and comfortable |
| For the patients involved in therapy, their time at Coalinga is a regimen of group meetings and counselling - something like a twelve-step recovery programme for alcoholism. Those in the early stages of recovery make a full account of their sexual offences, including those never reported to the authorities. | For the patients involved in therapy, their time at Coalinga is a regimen of group meetings and counselling - something like a twelve-step recovery programme for alcoholism. Those in the early stages of recovery make a full account of their sexual offences, including those never reported to the authorities. |
| They learn to acquire a sense of empathy for their victims. They also monitor their ongoing thoughts and learn techniques for redirecting their thinking away from areas that are likely to lead to fantasising in unhealthy ways. The therapists challenge their "cognitive distortions" or delusions - the big one being that children actually want sex with adults. | They learn to acquire a sense of empathy for their victims. They also monitor their ongoing thoughts and learn techniques for redirecting their thinking away from areas that are likely to lead to fantasising in unhealthy ways. The therapists challenge their "cognitive distortions" or delusions - the big one being that children actually want sex with adults. |
| Patients have lie detector tests and a form of sexual test called a plethysmograph. This is a device which is put around the subject's penis to measure his sexual arousal as he's shown a variety of images. | Patients have lie detector tests and a form of sexual test called a plethysmograph. This is a device which is put around the subject's penis to measure his sexual arousal as he's shown a variety of images. |
| Reformed character | Reformed character |
| Some are pornographic images of consenting adults, while some are deviant such as violent sex or suggestive images of children eating fruit and running around in bathing costumes. Then there are non-suggestive images to establish a baseline of non-arousal (photos of the Canadian city of Toronto). | Some are pornographic images of consenting adults, while some are deviant such as violent sex or suggestive images of children eating fruit and running around in bathing costumes. Then there are non-suggestive images to establish a baseline of non-arousal (photos of the Canadian city of Toronto). |
| At least one of the men I met, Mr Lamb, gave the impression of being a reformed character. | At least one of the men I met, Mr Lamb, gave the impression of being a reformed character. |
| The main problem Coalinga faces is that the vast majority of patients are refusing any kind of treatment | The main problem Coalinga faces is that the vast majority of patients are refusing any kind of treatment |
| In his late forties, he had been an inveterate molester of teenaged boys, some of them playmates of his two young daughters. | In his late forties, he had been an inveterate molester of teenaged boys, some of them playmates of his two young daughters. |
| He admitted that even prison hadn't shaken him out of his old ways and said he'd only begun to change on the Sexually Violent Predator programme. He valued the therapy, but said the turning point for him was being castrated, which freed him from intrusive paedophilic thoughts. Castrations are not part of the therapy at Coalinga, but patients can volunteer for them. | He admitted that even prison hadn't shaken him out of his old ways and said he'd only begun to change on the Sexually Violent Predator programme. He valued the therapy, but said the turning point for him was being castrated, which freed him from intrusive paedophilic thoughts. Castrations are not part of the therapy at Coalinga, but patients can volunteer for them. |
| One of the first men I spoke to at Coalinga was Mr Price, an ageing Vietnam vet with an extensive history of abusing small girls, many of whom he me through his local church where he taught Sunday school. | One of the first men I spoke to at Coalinga was Mr Price, an ageing Vietnam vet with an extensive history of abusing small girls, many of whom he me through his local church where he taught Sunday school. |
| Mr Price was deeply committed to his therapy programme, keeping tabs on his own thoughts by "journaling" at great length in a notebook. He repeatedly deplored his own offences. | Mr Price was deeply committed to his therapy programme, keeping tabs on his own thoughts by "journaling" at great length in a notebook. He repeatedly deplored his own offences. |
| But the main problem Coalinga faces is that the vast majority of patients are refusing any kind of treatment. This is mostly because they feel they shouldn't have been sent to Coalinga in the first place. | But the main problem Coalinga faces is that the vast majority of patients are refusing any kind of treatment. This is mostly because they feel they shouldn't have been sent to Coalinga in the first place. |
| They feel that they aren't mentally ill, that they committed crimes, for which they've done their time, and that they should no longer be locked up. They view the therapy programme as a charade, designed to keep them locked up indefinitely. | They feel that they aren't mentally ill, that they committed crimes, for which they've done their time, and that they should no longer be locked up. They view the therapy programme as a charade, designed to keep them locked up indefinitely. |
| Alcohol problem | Alcohol problem |
| I spoke to several men not involved in therapy. They were indignant at the idea that they might have psychiatric problems. When I asked one, Mr Yahn, if he had considered treatment, he said: "Would you get treatment for a headache?". | I spoke to several men not involved in therapy. They were indignant at the idea that they might have psychiatric problems. When I asked one, Mr Yahn, if he had considered treatment, he said: "Would you get treatment for a headache?". |
| Another patient, trying to excuse his transgressions, blamed the fact that he'd molested children on an alcohol problem - as though paedophilia was something anyone might be capable of, given a few too many drinks. | Another patient, trying to excuse his transgressions, blamed the fact that he'd molested children on an alcohol problem - as though paedophilia was something anyone might be capable of, given a few too many drinks. |
| Men like these are clearly damaged. But one part of the argument is on their side. The record shows that in the more than 10 years the SVP programme has existed, of the hundreds that have come to Coalinga, only 13 have ever graduated and left the hospital through the therapy route. | Men like these are clearly damaged. But one part of the argument is on their side. The record shows that in the more than 10 years the SVP programme has existed, of the hundreds that have come to Coalinga, only 13 have ever graduated and left the hospital through the therapy route. |
| And so there is a kind of stand-off at Coalinga - with mistrustful patients arrayed against a therapeutic establishment. Despite the therapeutic language and the kindly atmosphere, for the vast majority of men at Coalinga, the hospital might as well be a prison or a warehouse or indeed a pod in outer space for all the good it's doing them. | And so there is a kind of stand-off at Coalinga - with mistrustful patients arrayed against a therapeutic establishment. Despite the therapeutic language and the kindly atmosphere, for the vast majority of men at Coalinga, the hospital might as well be a prison or a warehouse or indeed a pod in outer space for all the good it's doing them. |
| American taxpayers are funding a lavishly appointed hospital in which hundreds of child molesters and rapists can idle their days away. The annual cost to keep one person at Coalinga is about $200,000. Multiply that by the 1,500 men who would be in the hospital at full occupancy. | American taxpayers are funding a lavishly appointed hospital in which hundreds of child molesters and rapists can idle their days away. The annual cost to keep one person at Coalinga is about $200,000. Multiply that by the 1,500 men who would be in the hospital at full occupancy. |
| Whatever the hopes nurtured for the hospital as a therapeutic institution, it has become a well-upholstered holding pen for keeping America's least wanted out of sight. The men can vote, take tennis lessons, watch their porn videos, throw parties, have sex with other men at the hospital, play bass in a jazz combo. They just can't leave. | Whatever the hopes nurtured for the hospital as a therapeutic institution, it has become a well-upholstered holding pen for keeping America's least wanted out of sight. The men can vote, take tennis lessons, watch their porn videos, throw parties, have sex with other men at the hospital, play bass in a jazz combo. They just can't leave. |
| More states have signed up to the Coalinga model - including, recently, New York. If a lifelong country club-style internment is the price of keeping paedophiles off the streets, many appear to be willing to pay it. | More states have signed up to the Coalinga model - including, recently, New York. If a lifelong country club-style internment is the price of keeping paedophiles off the streets, many appear to be willing to pay it. |
| Send us your comments using the form below. | Send us your comments using the form below. |
| If paedophilia is a mental illness, and we accept that paedophiles are sick individuals who cannot control their actions, then we have to come up with a long-term solution to keep them away from children without locking them up in prison. We should consider how we treat murderers. If a murderer is insane, we don't put them in prison, we lock them up in a secure hospital. If they are incurable they stay there for life. It's not really a punishment, as you can't punish someone for being ill. Putting them somewhere safe and reasonably comfortable where they can't harm anyone seems like a fair solution for insane criminals of any kind who are a public danger. I shall watch the show with interest.Rev Sue Scottley, London, UK | |
| Instead of pampering these violent sexual predators, they should be castrated, like Mr Lamb. Therapy isn't going to cure these men's' sickness, as it's a part of their make-up. It's like trying to cure being hetero or gay - it just can't be done. People cry "human rights", but what about the right of the victims not to be assaulted in the first place? Repeat offenders have no desire to stop themselves, as demonstrated in this article, so it becomes the legal system's responsibility to stop them.Charlie, Edinburgh | |
| You have to consider how much a child's innocence is worth. It may seem outrageous to spend that much on a seemingly lavish lifestyle for repeat offenders with no signs of repentance after serving a jail term. People do not choose their sexuality, but it is also about controlling urges that are not acceptable. Surely the biggest worry is that most offenders do not realise or see anything wrong with what they think and do. Government schemes and policies already in place are failing our children, so maybe this is the only way forward.Natasha Buthee, Northampton | |
| Are these men put to work in any fruitful way? Sloth is not good for anyone. If they do have a productive utility, the system could mitigate the costs incurred. I am glad they are kept off the streets.Paddy Flynn, Fort Lupton, CO, US | |
| It seems there is a trade-off between our children's safety and the morality of providing such horrible people with such comfortable lives, in which they have easy access to images of children and pornography. They need far longer jail sentences, and castration should be compulsory for those who don't show signs of remorse and/or recovery. Obviously this is an extreme measure, but as one of the men above has shown, it works.Tom, Brighton, England | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |