Paying for treatment

A committee in the Missouri Legislature has raised some good questions about treatment programs for convicted sex offender and why so many aren't receiving the required treatment.

State law requires convicted offenders in certain sexual offenses like rape, forcible sodomy and child molestation to receive the treatment. Statistics show that inmates who complete the treatment program are less likely to be repeat offenders.

But there are more than 170 sexual offenders in the Missouri prison system waiting for the treatment program. Corrections officials say there is not enough space or money to accommodate them.

This is a matter that needs to be addressed by legislators. They are the ones who passed the law to require the treatment for sexual offenders. It's up to them to budget appropriately to make sure every offender ordered to get the treatment actually gets it.