Sex Crime: Sex Offending and Society (Crime & Society) - Softcover

This text provides an account of the nature and extent of sex crime and offending in contemporary Britain, and the policies and legislative actions taken to combat this. Sex offenders have become "demonized" figures, and there has been a need to explain the phenomena and formulate appropriate policies and law. After a general overview of the history of measures to combat the sex offender and other "dangerous" offenders, the book examines the two parallel themes of the search for "justice" and "protection" that run through current approaches. Justice to ensure that sex offenders are effectively investigated, caught and prosecuted, and that courts have appropriate powers to sentence. Protection to ensure that prevention, treatment and other regulatory mechanisms are in place to protect the public - adults and children - in all those areas where they are likely to become victims of sexual offending.