Louis Theroux - a place for paedophiles

ThriceNightly · 21 Apr 2009 at 17:46

Anyone see this at the weekend?

Louis has gained access to Coalinga Mental Hospital in California, which houses more than 500 of the most disturbed criminals in America, convicted paedophiles. Most have already served lengthy prison sentences, but have been deemed unsafe for release. Instead, they have been sent here for an indefinite time. Spending time with those undergoing treatment, Louis wrestles with whether he can ever allow himself to believe men whose whole history is defined by deception and deceit.

The facility is purpose built and it cost $400million to build & $200000 to annually maintain each inmate - basically a warehouse for paedophiles to go after their prison sentence is served.

btw LT was the first documentary team to gain access to the facility

currently available on i-player until sunday 26/4/09

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00k3ms6/b00k3mck/Louis_Theroux_A_Place_for_Paedophiles/

lokkers · 21 Apr 2009 at 17:51

I watched it and found it very interesting. Shocking that most of those interviewed came across as normal thoughtful human beings (although I don't know why I was expecting them not to be).

Certainly has made me think about the subject from the point of view of the offenders.

Slogan · 21 Apr 2009 at 17:53

I like Theroux but thought this was one of his poorer documentaries. I didn't feel there was any real depth to the people he was interviewing.

I was surprised by how easy life is for the people inside though. Then again, I may be surprised in a similar way of real prison.

yer_averagejoe · 21 Apr 2009 at 17:53

Yeah i watched it. Very interesting. I found it highly commendable that one guy had chosen physical castration to help him.

Conscript · 21 Apr 2009 at 17:54

I saw it too. Very interesting and I thought a little disturbing at times. Louis is right though, people already have so many preconceptions about paedophiles, it's hard to present a documentary about them objectively.

alex24 · 21 Apr 2009 at 17:57

I saw it too, thought it was very interesting and thought-provoking. It does question our perception of these people for sure, though I agree with the comment above that it wasn't up to his usual standards, though I believe this to be a result of the freedom in which he had to work (little).

Noel Gallagher · 21 Apr 2009 at 17:57

lol @ everyone saynig very interesting!

XD

Azagoth · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:05

Wasn't as creepy as the time he met Jimmy Saville.

Vonhelmet · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:05

Noel Gallagher said:
lol @ everyone saynig very interesting!

XD

What's so funny about it?

ThriceNightly · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:08

Slogan said:
I was surprised by how easy life is for the people inside

I was at first suprised at the level of comfort offered to the inmates, though as the documentary went along i realised that they had served their prison sentences but society was not willing to allow the paedos back into the community.

I would imagine most would end up living the rest of their lives at the facility.

Anyone else find the female psychotherapists quite scary - they seem to have amazing control over the inmates :eek:

kibblerok · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:11

The adams family bit was incredible

apeZ · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:16

Got halfway through this on iPlayer last night, going to finish it up today.

It's interesting, quite disturbing when they describe what they have done in a normal, casual way. It's hard to know what to feel, part of me wants to feel sorry for them because they have done their time and deserve to be let out, but another part of me shudders to think what would happen if they had paedophiliac urges again.

Definitely quite a thought-provoking documentary.

MonkeyNews · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:21

ThriceNightly said:
I was at first suprised at the level of comfort offered to the inmates, though as the documentary went along i realised that they had served their prison sentences but society was not willing to allow the paedos back into the community.

I was exactly the same at first, but at the end of the day it turns out that the place is a prison just very well presented and maintained, 70% of the people are there for life with no chance of getting out, and even the ones who have been granted a release couldnt get housing anywhere.

$200,000 of taxpayers money to keep an inmate in there for a year sounds expensive, but im sure most tax payers would rather have the scumbags in there than living next door to them, $200,000 for peace of mind seems very reasonable to me.

And yeah that Addams Family rehearsal was incredible, couldnt believe what I was seeing there! :eek:

magmax · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:22

It wasn't one of his best show but then I 'm guessing that he wasn't aloud to have an in depth interview them.

The head psychiatrist lady was a bit odd

"I am sensing a lot of negatiive energy coming from the corner of the room"

and

"I'd just like to let you know that what happen yesterday didn't hurt my feelings and I am ok with what happen blah blah"

weirdo

Buffman · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:30

I saw a bit of it and turned it off, regardless of how they come across what you hear they've done is plain sick.

Vonhelmet · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:32

The Craig said:
I saw a bit of it and turned it off, regardless of how they come across what you hear they've done is plain sick.

So sick that they are beyond rehabilitation or release?

Amp34 · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:34

Are they all actually Paedophiles or were others in for other sex crimes? (by that I mean were they all arrested for having "inappropriate" relations with under 12's(ish)?)

Might watch this later but BBC iplayer and flash are having problems with my PC atm...

Chimerical · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:35

The Craig said:
I saw a bit of it and turned it off, regardless of how they come across what you hear they've done is plain sick.

Some of their victims will probably grow up to be the same. So really, paedophilles are totally deserving of rehabilitation because some of them were victims of it (or just standard abuse) when they were younger.

yer_averagejoe said:
Yeah i watched it. Very interesting. I found it highly commendable that one guy had chosen physical castration to help him.

Erm, that's not a good thing. Plus, that is definitely not guaranteed to prevent him from re-offending in the future.

dangerstat · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:35

It was a little strange I have to say, but interesting at the same time. Can't say I think it's fair that they get such good surroundings for after committing such horrific crimes against children. I know it's a bit "The Sun" but I think they should be doing hard time not what looks like "leisure time"

Amp34 · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:36

dangerstat said:
It was a little strange I have to say, but interesting at the same time. Can't say I think it's fair that they get such good surroundings for after committing such horrific crimes against children. I know it's a bit "The Sun" but I think they should be doing hard time not what looks like "leisure time"

Most of them did from what I understand. In a way it's "unfair" that they are still pretty much in prison even after they served their time.