In an entirely sound decision by the US Court of Appeals, the court has rejected a supposed arousal test for sex offenders a sex offender. The arousal test is designed to monitor a sex offender's response to erotic images. The court ruled this week that such as test infringes on an individual’s personal liberties. People cannot and shouldn’t be deprived of life, liberty or property because of their thoughts, no matter how depraved those thoughts may be. The law is designed to punish the actions of men, not their personal thought processes, to do so represents a gross violation of privacy and reeks of authoritarianism.

This case is based on a 2001 ruling in which Matthew Weber (as a condition of his release from prison) was ordered to submit to arousal tests (penile plethysmograph) using a electronic device attached to the man’s penis, he would then be shown sexual images and the responses would be measured. Presumably, if he was aroused in any way, Webber would be returned to prison. Imagine if ordinary citizens were subjected to such an intrusion, few people in this country would remain free, if thoughts were indeed criminal.

Weber who had been charged with possession of child pornography naturally objected to the test, no doubt designed by a sick deviant in their own right, and argued it should be reserved for child molesters. Weber is half right; the test simply should not be used. Child molesters and other sex offenders should have no need for the test because they should never be released from prison.

Initially designed by Czech communist to ferret out homosexuals, this arousal test is little more than pseudo science and is virtually unproven.

Even if by some miracle of 21st century science the test were 100% accurate, to force individuals to submit to such an intrusion runs counter to the very fabric of our constitution. Those who feel there is a need for such a test, clearly believe that sex offenders are a danger to society and if that is indeed the case (which it is), why are such individuals being released from prison in the first place? Let them rot in prison for eternity as is entirely proper.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-porn21jun21,0,6179893.story?track=mostviewed-homepage