Pedophiles are people with a sexual atraction to children. Manifest acts, such as taking sexually explicit photographs, molesting children and exposing one's genitalia to children, are all crimes. Pedophiles can be "treated" but never cured, because their sexual preference has always been, and always will be, children. Their urges will always be present. Therefore, treatment focuses on changing, curbing, or re-directing the acting-out behaviors of pedophiles.
Many states have laws requiring convicted pedophiles to be registered as a sex offender in the community where they reside. The purpose of such laws is to alert the public so that children in the neighboring area are aware of the the need to safeguard themselves.
