CHENANGO COUNTY – County probation officer, C.J. Hose, who works with sex offenders, discussed the details of sex offender probation.
According to Hose, it is rare for sex offenders who have committed forcible rape or who have committed a sex offense against an adult to be on probation. He said those types of offenders typically are sentenced to prison. “Most of the offenders I work with have offended against children,” said Hose.
Hose admitted this was most likely due to the prosecution issues with child sex offense cases, like protecting the child from having to testify as a witness and be further traumatized.
“Everyone tries to look out for the victim, especially children. No one wants them to have to relive everything on the stand. Sitting on the witness stand can be very stressful,” he said.
“Sex offender probation is more stringent,” said Hose. “Most other crimes require five years of probation for felonies and three years for misdemeanors. Sex offenders are typically required to 10 years instead of five for a felony conviction, or six years instead of three for a misdemeanor conviction.”
“The scrutiny sex offenders undergo is strenuous. Each sex offender has different terms and conditions tailored to the individual by the judge, which includes restrictions on the types of places they can work, regular monitoring of their electronic devices and where they can live,” he added.
Hose said he randomly checks up on the sex offenders he works with, visiting them one or more times a week – or at least making monthly contact, depending on the offender. He said he also looks at their electronic devices anywhere from three times to 20 times per week, depending on what is “going on with an individual.”
“Sex offenders are typically not allowed to look at any type of pornography or make any homemade pornography. They are not allowed to use any social media sites, which we monitor often. They can’t post on YouTube or have a Facebook account. Facebook is a big one,” said Hose.
“That especially includes dating sites like Grinder or Tinder,” he added.
If a sex offender is dating someone or has a child, Hose said it is a long, tedious process to get the offender integrated into the family. He said the probation office, mental health and sex offender counselors are involved in the process.
“There is a special accreditation process that counselors and the probation officer go through with the significant other. The sex offender and person he is dating have to be very open about their dating and sex life. Once an offender keeps any secrets, red flags go up,” said Hose.
In order to further ensure sex offenders are being honest, Hose said Chenango County acquired a polygraph in 2013, so sex offenders could be polygraphed at least once a year. “It may be more if something comes up,” he said.
Regarding rehabilitation, he said each sex offender is required to participate in both group and individual treatment, which is typically scheduled once a week but varies depending on the individual.
“There are quite a few different treatment approaches. Some of the most current, successful approaches include cognitive behavior therapy, where offending behaviors are examined and the goal is getting them to take responsibility for them,” said Hose. “They are also required to go through sex offender education at first, which goes through different types of sexual behaviors and thought processes. The goal of that is mainly to get the sex offender aware of their thinking patterns leading up to their offending behaviors.”
“Depending on the offender’s state of mind when he starts treatment, and the type of offending behaviors, treatment typically takes a couple of years,” he added.
Once off probation, Hose said sex offenders are still required to register as sex offenders, which he said still monitors and restricts them. He said even level 1 sex offenders, who are non-violent and predatory, have to register a minimum of 20 years to a maximum of life.
“Most are getting life, even a few level 1s. Level 2s and 3s are life no matter what. Anyone can look up 2s or 3s and what they did,” said Hose.
Hose said he monitors for any “grooming behaviors,” which would include any behavior where a sex offender is seeking out or “taking an interest in an individual.” He said he makes sure offenders do not have contact with someone under 18, do not make any fake Facebook or other social media profiles or have any inappropriate material on their computers.
“Some offenders are shadowed for a period of time or family members are coached in knowing what types of behaviors or patterns to look for. Some offenders can't even go to Walmart without supervision,” said Hose.
When it comes to “grooming behaviors” or behaviors where an offender seems to be trying to “make someone a victim,” Hose said it is enough to get a probation violation against an offender and send him to prison if he is found guilty.
“If we feel like he is intentionally 'bumping into' a victim or another person more than once at different places, then we look at it more closely. An offender can also get a violation and go to prison for creating a fake Facebook account, possessing pornography, sending graphic photos,” said Hose.
Hose said if an offender is found guilty of violating his probation, he can receive up to the maximum sentence of the underlying charge he was convicted of.
“Even if it's their last day of probation and they get a violation, they can get longer prison sentences or get the maximum prison time,” he said.
Ironically, Hose said sex offenders on probation do their best to avoid jail or prison. But he said he thinks probation is worse than prison. “There is a lot more hoops they have to jump through. Instead of just sitting in a prison cell, they have therapy to attend, monitoring they undergo ... I definitely don't think it's a slap on the wrist. They have to do a lot to be successful on probation, and they get incarceration anyway if they aren't,” said Hose.
Hose said he takes his job very seriously and if he feels “it's getting to the point where the community is at risk,” he pushes for a violation and a jail or prison sentence to make sure the community is safe.
“The most important thing people need to realize is sex offenders are not men in trench coats and sunglasses creeping around the corner,” said Hose. “Unfortunately sex offenders are usually people you know. Stranger offenses happen but are very rare. Everyone needs to be cautious if someone they know takes an unhealthy interest in a child.”