http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/new ... 305927.htm
JAIL'S HARD PLACE FOR PEDOPHILES
By SIMONE WEICHSELBAUM
weichss@phillynews.com
Watch your back, Michael.
That was the advice given to the iconic pop star by Philadelphia's criminal experts, based on their knowledge of how sex offenders fare when they are in prison.
Although a warrant was issued for Jackson's arrest yesterday - the first step in a long legal process that is ahead of the multi-faced singer - experts said convicted child molesters are the "scum" of the prison social strata.
For almost half a century, A. Charles Peruto Sr. has defended criminals in the city. And when sexual predators cross into the world behind bars - they become the victim, he said.
"They become toys," said Peruto on the role reversal of child molesters who are often assaulted during incarceration. "They get a lot of what they gave."
To Peruto, there are three levels in the prison world. On top are the "tough guys"; in the middle are white-collar criminals; and on the bottom are sexual offenders.
On Aug. 23, defrocked Boston priest John Geoghan was strangled by another inmate in a Massachusetts correctional facility where he was serving a nine- to 10-year sentence after being convicted of indecently grabbing a boy in 1991.
William M. DiMascio, executive director of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, a criminal justice reform organization, said the public must still acknowledge child molesters as human beings and not try to attack them.
"They have severe psychological problems," said DiMascio. "People do change."