“They are considered to be in the lowest category for risk to reoffend and have earned the right to live life in as normal fashion as possible, within their supervision plans.” – Abbot John Klassen (July 10, 2013)
In an email exchange with a Saint John’s Prep School graduate on July 10, 2013, Abbot Klassen answered several questions regarding the monk offenders on campus.
Question #1: Regarding the 10 monks who were credibly accused of sexual abuse or misconduct who remain at the Abbey, why aren’t their names or pictures publicized as a safety measure for minors on campus?
Klassen: These men in their situations have been evaluated in terms of risk to reoffend, have been or are being treated, are being supervised, are following their safety plans, and need to be able to live full lives to the full extent possible.
If they lived in the lay community they would not be supervised, no one would know who they are or where they live (given the fact that their abuse behaviors occurred so long ago and that they have been treated and supervised as long as they have been). They are considered to be in the lowest category for risk to reoffend and have earned the right to live life in as normal fashion as possible, within their supervision plans.
In the lay community only men who are in the category considered at highest risk are subjected to community notification. And that is a small percentage of all the men on probation or coming out of prison.
Questions #2 and #3: Thank you for your response. I do have 2 more questions: 1) exactly who determined that these 10 men are at low risk to reoffend, and 2) how exactly are they being supervised?
Klassen: We used an external organization, Project Pathfinders, which specializes in this precisely this kind of risk assessment, to do it for these ten men. Mr. Steve Sawyer, a external professional with much experience with supervision, is the supervisor.
