While this study is a bit old, it does point out that there can be a high recidivism rate amongst child molesters http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9418384
https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/163390.pdf This is a challenging disorder to treat, and Duggar’s was never treated. And it wasn’t an isolated incident, by his own admission. It occurred over several years, with several (at least 5?) victims in 2 families. I worry about Josh’s 4 children. The show needs to stay off the air. No one should make a penny off of victims, especially in the name of an apology or admission. Makes my skin crawl.
Those studies concern adult offenders and the second one expressly defines molesters as sex offenders over age 16. I haven’t studied the issue in depth, but the information I’ve seen suggests that there is a very low recidivism rate when the offenders are young adolescents (12-15). The literature very strongly suggests that early adolescent offenders should not be lumped with adult offenders.
High recidivism among ADULT offenders is very well known, which is why sex offender registries and the like are justified.
Here’s an article on juvenile offenders. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/227763.pdf Research is limited by the reported cases and often studiies are done with with an incarcerated population.
The fact that he had at least 5 viction over several years (who knows if there were more- it is often an under-reported crime) is disturbing. He is an untreated child molester, even if it was “only” during his adolescent years.
From this article, http://www.smart.gov/SOMAPI/sec2/ch3_recidivism.html which points out the challenges of defining and tracking juvenile recitivism on many levels:
Ack, typo in #282. Victims, not viction.
It’s funny how reality shows are great until reality becomes known. Then, when reality rears its ugly head, the show is yanked (or at least downplayed.)
Sounds like many Christians are plenty appalled by both the Duggars and Gov. Huckabee’s defense of them:
Glad to see that response.
I’m surprised TLC is still waffling about canceling the show entirely. Still floating the idea of just not having Josh be a part of it.
Curious to see what he does next. I am guessing he had planned to return to Arkansas to either run for political office or to be very involved in a conservative campaign. Assuming that won’t be happening now.
My fiance’s family are (were) pretty staunch Huckabee supporters. To say they are disappointed is the understatement of the century. More like… disgusted. My fiance and his family devote their lives to kids. They are furious about this and Huckabee’s continued support.
Good link, LL.
TLC had already been thinking of a Jill snd/or Jessa spinoff. Enough is enough.
I just looked at hs FB. Yow, yes, they are blasting him.
I think Dan Savage’s comments are spot on in this video:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/24/dan-savage-duggar_n_7429464.html
I think I’ve been obsessing a bit lately. My daughter woke me up in the middle of the night and the image behind my eyelids was… Josh Duggar. Too much!
I am just baffled that TLC is even considering continuing this show… just baffled. With eighteen more kids to go, we know someone is going to do something that is against Jim Bob and Michelle’s beliefs/rules - these kids are just starting to enter into real adulthood and some will get away with pushing the limits. We don’t need to see their stories played out on TV, too, even if they are behaviors some of us WOULD like to see them engage in, like… moving away to college, hugging front on with someone of the opposite gender, ::gasp:: kissing someone while on a date, cutting their hair short or growing a beard. No, those behaviors can’t begin to compare with what Josh did, but they are behaviors that will put them at odds with their parents in a very negative way and it shouldn’t be done in public view, on TV.
I’m baffled that these people ever had a show in the first place.
There was a post linked earlier and it was written by a woman who grew up with similar rules. Cheerful obedience was one of their tenets and her brother was considered rebellious and kicked out of the family for being surly and unresponsive! It doesn’t take much to upset this very rigid boat.
^^^ No it doesn’t, and to have it happen in the public eye is tragic and almost unforgivable.
Throw me in the boat that says kids should never, ever be involved in “reality” shows. Really, very little good can come from growing up in the spotlight.
I have a lot of family and friends in show business- including some minors. They take every conceivable step to ensure that their private life stays private.
I only see the Duggars in so far as they are in promos when I watched (am now officially boycotting) Say Yes to the Dress and What Not to Wear reruns. I have never been attracted to the family/household type of reality programming. From what I know of Honey Boo Boo, the mom kept company with a guy who had molested one of her kids. While that is horrible and I feel for the kids and wish there weren’t even shows like that I don’t have the same level of interest. The Honey Boo Boo family, whatever their names are, don’t bring an agenda to their show so far as I know and don’t take their message to the streets telling other people how to live.
The Duggars aren’t content to be a voyeuristic money making machine. They have a broader message and are out there in force making overt political statements and aligning themselves with national figures and promoting platforms of hatred and bigotry. Whatever they do as a family going forward is none of my business and I don’t really care. I just wish they would practice a bit of humility and stop inflicting their views on the rest of us where they do real damage to people outside their circle.
I agree with you. Whether it is Honey Boo Boo or Kate Plus Eight or the Duggars - it is an incredible invasion of privacy for the children.
All those shows are exploitive, IMO.