So much for giving Josef Fritzl a fresh start

Note, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld Ontario's sex offender registry last Friday

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Marni Soupcoff

A sad, interesting development in the disturbing Josef Fritzl case: It looks like the Austrian father — who has reportedly admitted to keeping his daughter captive in his basement as a sort of sex-slave for over two decades and fathering seven children with her — had a previous record of sex crime convictions. He was allegedly convicted of attempted rape and sexual assault of young women in two separate incidents in 1967. So how would a convicted sex criminal get away with reporting his daughter missing (as he did before confining her to the basement dungeon 24 years ago) and legally adopting three of his daughters children?

The problem is Austrias "enlightened" law, which allows crimes that dont carry a life sentence to be wiped off a criminals record after between five and 30 years. There are surely good intentions behind the policy: Give criminals who have done their time a fresh start, a clean state. But given recidivism rates of sex offenders (pedophiles who molest boys have a recividism rate of 52%, and rapists of adult women reoffend at a rate of 39%) and the difficulty of effectively treating sex offenders, this doesnt seem like a wise move.

You have to think that in Fritzls case, his previous convictions would have raised suspicions (or at least given authorities pause) when his teenage daughter disappeared if only authorities had been aware of them. And, really, should a sex offender be permitted to adopt young children at any point in his life, even decades after his offenses? Probably not. Why take the chance when there are safe, loving families eager to adopt?

I have to admit, that Ive often found the idea that Canada has a National Sex Offender Registry somewhat troubling since it seems to impose added penalties to criminals after they have served their full sentences. My general position is that lengthy sentences are fine, but once someones free, they should be free, otherwise the government is taking more power over our lives than it can rightfully claim. But how can I not be comforted by the thought that under Canadas current laws, a Josef Fritzl would be put on the NSOR and have to report every year to the police — a restriction that would would likely have saved his daughter and grandchildren years of unspeakable abuse had it existed in Austria.
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
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