The dude who was in the relationship to the 12 year old and either didn't realize his impact or didn't care, as well as the mother you mean? I would argue they continue to pose a real danger to the daughter, and that man committed an egregious act of abuse on a child who was at worse coerced and at best a victim of a much older person.
I have no trust he won't engage in this same behavior again. Unless you think it was just an exceptional 12 year old? Like have you met any 12 year olds so wise and beautiful you forgot about the fact they were 12 and just wanted to fuck a baby into them?
Although I totally agree that the prison system in the US is a sort of torture/slave labor system and many of the people engaged in that system are due to circumstances rather than "crime".
Absolutely not the case here, this is a pretty easy call to make imo!
So let the dude prey on other children? Or spend resources on closely monitoring him for however long his parole is, same with the mom. But as you noted, these "stupid" people are a continuing risk, right? I don't know, maybe this is the appropriate use of prison, I do wish there were education and rehabilitation programs that weren't gutted, but in this case prison solves so many problems for the victim!
I think that's actually the crux of our disagreement and I don't think we'll come together on it.
I think the fact that he ever engaged in any sort of romantic relationship with a 12 year old makes him more likely to do it again, he's the kind of person who would get into a relationship with a 12 year old as a 24 year old.
I believe you are taking the face value indication from the word "genuine relationship" and not really interrogating the "with a 12 year old" part. I don't think anything I say is gonna change that, and I don't think your opinion is exactly gonna win over hearts and minds on my end, so I guess I'll end it there!
Oh don't get me wrong, this person needs severe therapy. I just think therapy and productivity for a child he should never be allowed to see (2 children , honestly) is a better outcome for the victim.