SCARS remains just as concerned as we were in 2023 when Mr. Cox, a serial sex offender, was released and reoffended.
Here is our list of questions and grave concerns regarding today’s article that was published in the local media:
1. What treatment did Mr. Cox receive that drastically reduced the risk of a child being harmed by him now that he has been released?
2. Was it the most effective treatment for those that commit sexual crimes against children?
3. Did those who approved his appeal base this decision on detailed progress reports that were different from the last time he was released and then approached a child?
4. What provisions apart from a warning are in place that will reduce the risk of him causing another to experience trauma, fear, abuse? Let’s not forget he’s done this four times in the past.
5. We know Mr. Cox is a risk to children in this community. Who has been assigned to monitor his whereabouts?
6. What will be the consequence if he violates again? Will it be another 24 months of punishment in an institution, which is the only guarantee that children will be kept safe in this community. (Westgate)
7. What are his license conditions? For example:
• Is he wearing an electronic monitoring device?
• Is he mandated to regularly meet with an offender risk management team?
• Is he mandated to attend all appointments with a psychologist or psychiatrist for continued treatment?
• Is he prohibited from living in any home with children under the age of 18 (not even for one night)?
• Is he mandated to advise the Offender Management Team member of any relationships (New or prior to their time of incarceration) with anyone who has children under the age of 18 years?
• Has he been advised that he must receive approval from an Offender Risk Management Team of his place of residence, and when he moves?
• Is he prohibited in making any contact or communication with any past victims or family members of the victim?
• Has he been strictly prohibited from engaging in any unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 18, unless it is inadvertent and could not be avoided? (In other words, if he sees another child sitting on a bench, has he been told to run from that area)
• Has he been told that he must not apply for any work, volunteer position, or any activity that will involve children under the age of 18 years? (i.e. packing groceries)
• Has he been told not to attend any designated zones that are prohibited – (i.e. schools, parks, children’s library, pools, movie theatres that are showing PG movies, all public places where children are participating in sports, camps and clubs). (Not within 2500 ft. – as some countries state)?
• Has his period of registration been extended beyond 10 years (Sex Offender Register) and made for life?
• Has he been advised that he must advise Offender Risk Management Team of place of worship?
• Has he been advised that he must not have in his possession any material that includes child pornography?
• Has he been prohibited from legally changing his name?
• Has he been advised that if he breaches any of these conditions, he will be arrested and will be re-called back to Westgate with no trial?
If there is no other facility in this country for him to be protected from re-offending a 5th time, then sadly Westgate is the only choice for him. Until a facility is built that will allow those that who sexually harm our innocence and vulnerable, not to be behind bars with no freedom, we must ensure that the children of Bermuda have the freedom to be children. They and their families should not have to live in fear that he is out in public.
We expressed our concerns in 2023, and we hope and pray that legislation is being written or has been written that will very clearly state that if someone convicted of sexually assaulting a child breaches their conditions upon release from a facility which keeps children safe and protected, they go directly back to that facility with no release and NO TRIAL.
If we say that we truly care about children, those in positions of power must ask themselves this question – “Would you allow Mr. Cox to babysit your child, your grandchild, your little niece, or little nephew? If your answer is “no”, then please write the legislation that will protect them.
If this is about mental illness, then build a facility ASAP. Advocate to defense lawyers that this is not about punishment, it’s about protection!
Please Bermuda, let’s make child protection a priority.
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