I do not think pedophiles should go to prison (unless they actually assault a child). It's a mental issue, no one would choose to be attracted to children, so I think if they are in possession of child porn or fantasize about children, we need to send them to a mental hospital and try to help them. If they act upon their impulses and actually try getting with a child then yes they should be in prison, but it's an illness and I think we should try to help people instead of villainizing them and arresting them. Yes, it is fucked up, but they cannot help it. And if they are choosing not to act on their impulses, they should receive help instead of being punished for who they are.
lemjam6 1rst- I mostly agree with you. Mental health facilities seem like an all-around better alternative to prisons. However: Being in possession of child porn is a crime punishable by law. (As opposed to fantasizing about whatever the hell you want). If they own child porn, there is a chance they purchased it from a supplier that is actively abusing children. Or maybe they took the photos themselves? Either way, it drives the underground demand for child porn. Possessing child porn is equivalent to acting on their impulses. The only exception I see being that they accidentally stumbled upon it online
