John Leo

Indeterminate sentencing allows the criminal justice system to keep a sex offender who is judged to be a danger to the community imprisoned indefinitely, even after the original sentence is served. In the following viewpoint, nationally syndicated columnist John Leo contends that many sex offenders are sexual predators—career rapists and child molesters who repeatedly commit new crimes when they are released from prison. Leo argues that indeterminate sentencing is the only way society can protect itself from those who are determined to rape and molest repeatedly.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How many offenses do rapists and child molesters commit before they are arrested, according to Leo?
2. How does indeterminate sentencing protect a prisoner’s rights, in Leo’s opinion?
3. How many men were being held under indeterminate...