ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how structural and functional neuroimaging research on brain abnormalities observed in individuals with pedophilia might potentially influence orthodox legal perspectives on retribution and rehabilitation concerning pedophilic sex offenders in the justice system. Knowledge regarding the neural abnormalities associated with pedophilic disorder could possibly reduce retributive sentiments of judges and juries toward diagnosed sex offenders and, most importantly, lead to more receptive attitudes toward rehabilitative punishments and treatments for these offenders in order to better combat pedophilic sexual offending. Three nascent treatments that seek to target affected brain regions in pedophilic individuals, which may one day serve as viable rehabilitative punishment options to deter sexual offending, are also discussed.
