Yet when child sex offenders are brought to justice and serve time for their offenses they are often released into unsuspecting communities and left free to resume their sexual attacks.

The practice of executing such offenders is a relic of the past and is inconsistent with evolving standards of decency in a civilized society.

We have initiated programs for re-entry offenders since some 500 000 to 600 000 offenders will come out of prison each year for the next three or four years. We want to have positive alternatives when they come back to the community.

The thing about youthful offenders is that no one seems to care about them. Most people don't like adolescents - even the good ones can be snarky and unpleasant. Combine the antipathy we feel toward the average teenager with the fear inspired by youth violence and you have a population that no one wants to deal with.

Despite the fact that in America we incarcerate more juveniles for life terms than in any other country in the world the truth is that the vast majority of youth offenders will one day be released. The question is simple and stark. Do we want to help them change or do we want to help them become even more violent and dangerous?