Six months too short to monitor offenders
PETALING JAYA: Many questions still remain on just how exactly sex offenders should be monitored after being released from prison.
Empower Malaysia's executive director Maria Chin Abdullah feels that the monitoring period of six months is too short and suggests it be extended to a year.
"Normally, offenders will not repeat their crime in the first six months of release as they are still trying to fit back into society. It is after that period when we will need to look into their activities. I think a year of monitoring is more appropriate".
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil had suggested that sex offenders be monitored for at least six months after release from prison.
Sharizat said such a move would prevent sex offenders, especially those convicted of crimes against children, from landing a job that would allow them direct contact with minors.
Maria stressed that if the system was implemented, it should be specified who would be monitoring these individuals.
"Is the responsibility going to fall on the police or would NGOs also be involved? This needs to be clearly stated". Maria also feels that the monitoring period for each offender should be different and not fixed for six months for all offenders.
"The monitoring period should be set according to the seriousness of the offence that they have been in prison for," she said.
Rajinder Kaur, the Sikh Women's Awareness Network (SWAN) president, also supported the suggestion and expressed hope that the monitoring system will be maintained accurately.
"This system will be a main reference for those running children's homes and child and youth activities when they recruit volunteers. It will be a great help to the police and social societies to track the offenders. But if the data is not well-maintained, it may cause more problems".
Rajinder also said accurate verification was crucial to maintain the credibility of such a system.
She added: "Instead of just monitoring offenders, they should also be given counselling from time to time".
Pertubuhan Tindankan Wanita Islam Malaysia, (Pertiwi) president Datuk Nik Safiah Karim expressed concern that the monitoring mechanism might be abused. While it would be easier for police to monitor repeat offenders, it may be a problem for offenders who have genuinely changed and repented.
"We don't want anyone to jump the gun and accuse these people whenever a case takes place. It's not going to be fair for us to point fingers at those who are within the monitoring system".
Shahrizat had called for the creation of a Sexual Offender Registration Act that would list all the names and data of people convicted of sex crimes where they would be screened before landing jobs.
She said the ministry hoped to set up a committee in the near future to look into the need for such an Act.
The Malay Mail
