Two Athens men were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of two separate incidents of sexual assault.

The first man, a 32-year-old, is accused of the more serious crime. It is alleged that he raped and molested the daughter of a woman whom he was dating while the mother was at work. Police believe he assaulted the girl on several occasions, beginning in 2011. He has been charged with rape and child molestation. The man has a son with the mother of the girl whom he is accused of molesting.

The second man, a 20-year-old, turned himself into police on Tuesday. He apparently told police that he sexually assaulted a woman he supervised at work. Police have not released other details of his alleged crime.

The two men were booked in Clarke County Jail within an hour of each other, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. Both have been denied bail.

Obviously, a person who cannot control his impulses is a danger to the public. But many criminal law experts believe that locking such people in jail and throwing away the key is not the best or most effective means of dealing with such people. Oftentimes, people who have committed rapes or other sex crimes have deep underlying issues and problems that can be improved or eliminated with therapy or other treatment. That, of course, serves the purpose of both protecting the public and helping someone who badly needs assistance.

Other people, however, object to using taxpayer money for such treatment, particularly when it is being spent on someone who has committed a crime.

Where do you stand on that issue?

Source: The Athens Banner-Herald, "Police make two arrests in separate Athens rapes," Joe Johnson, June 6, 2012