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Whether you believe that therapy can redeem someone like Kevin, or the other men we've been speaking about, may depend on whether you believe people can learn empathy.
一個人是否相信心理治療能拯救凱文那樣的人，或上文提到的那些人，可能取決于他是否相信人們能學會同理心。
Researchers at the University of Cambridge published a study in March
劍橋大學的研究人員今年3月發表的一項研究表明，
that suggests subjects' ability to empathize with others
受試者與他人產生情感共鳴的能力
had little to do with their genetic makeup and more to do with how they were raised.
與他們的基因構成基本無關，更多的是由他們的成長方式所決定。
Empathetic people are made, not born.
同理心是后天培養的，而不是與生俱來的。
Many of the men Cheryl and Jennifer counsel experienced emotional, physical or sexual abuse themselves when they were young.
許多咨詢過謝麗爾和詹妮弗的人自己年輕時也有過遭受情感、生理或性方面的虐待的經歷。
As the therapists often say in group, "Hurt people hurt people."
就像治療師們經常在小組討論中說的那樣，“受害者也會變成加害者。”
At sentencing hearings, Cheryl testified to the likelihood that a sex offender can reform based on their history.
在量刑聽證會上，謝麗爾試圖證明，性犯罪者是可以根據他們的過往改過自新的。
But there are no guarantees.
但并不能保證他們一定會這么做。
In October, the Supreme Court will consider a complicated case challenging the federal laws that govern some sex offenders.
今年10月，最高法院將審議一個考驗約束某些性犯罪者的聯邦法律的復雜案件。
The decision could allow hundreds of thousands of convicted offenders to move more easily across state lines
審理結果可能會減輕成千上萬已經被定罪的罪犯跨越州界的難度，
and eventually remove their names from the sex-offender registry.
甚至給予他們從性犯罪者名單中除名的機會。
Even if that suit fails, civil rights proponents and victim advocates will likely confront each other again in the nation's highest court.
即使訴訟失敗，民權倡導者和受害者維權人士也可能在美國最高法院再次交鋒。
A Colorado federal judge recently ruled that the state's sex-offender registry is unconstitutional.
最近，科羅拉多州一名聯邦法官就裁定，該州的性犯罪者登記制度違憲。
He said the list constitutes cruel and unusual punishment
他表示，這份名單上的懲罰措施太過殘酷，且不同尋常，
because it can subject these men to ostracism and violence at the hands of the public
比如罪犯們可能會遭受到來自公眾的排斥和暴力，
and that it fails to properly distinguish between different types of offenses.
而且，名單也沒有合理區分不同類型的犯罪。
In an attempt to resolve the tension between public safety and individual redemption,
為了解決公共安全與個人救贖之間的緊張關系，
the law has settled on an imperfect compromise: sex offenders are inscribed on a registry, sometimes permanently.
該法律做出了一個并不完美的妥協：將性犯罪者登記在案，有時甚至是永久性登記在案。
But they are also ordered to attend therapy to get better.
但他們也被要求要接受治療以便好轉起來。
The bad men are left in limbo.
那些壞人則被留在了地獄的邊緣。
Inside the small taupe house, Cheryl and Jennifer work to move through that limbo, one conversation at a time.
在這座灰褐色的小房子里，謝麗爾和詹妮弗努力地想穿過這一地獄，一次只安排一個對話。
As the bright winter sun sets and the office grows cold, a group therapy session comes to a close 45 minutes after it was supposed to.
隨著明亮的冬日夕陽西下，辦公室變得越來越冷，這場集體治療在原定結束時間的45分鐘后才真正結束。
The men rise from the worn couch and pull on their coats and hats.
男人們從破舊的沙發上站起來，穿上大衣，戴上帽子。
One has to head home to meet his parole-mandated curfew.
其中一人必須趕回家，因為假釋規定了他要宵禁。
The man with the ankle bracelet needs to charge his battery.
戴腳鐐的男子則要回去給腳鐐的電池充電。
They file out slowly, loose floorboards creaking under their feet.
他們排著隊慢慢地走出了房間，松動的地板在他們腳下吱吱作響。
Tomorrow, Cheryl and Jennifer might text some of these men to see how they're doing.
明天，謝麗爾和詹妮弗可能會給這些男人發短信，問問他們過得怎么樣。
They might call their wives or bosses or parole officers.
也可能會給他們的妻子、老板或假釋官打電話。
They'll review the homework the men have turned in and prep for individual therapy sessions.
她們會檢查這些男子交的作業，并為單獨治療做準備。
After those meetings end and the men leave the house for good, Cheryl and Jennifer may never know what becomes of them.
課程結束，那些人永遠離開那間屋子之后，謝麗爾和詹妮弗可能永遠也不知道他們之后會怎么樣。
Mostly, they hope they won't read about them in the news.
大多數時候，她們都還是希望，不要在新聞上看到他們。
譯文由可可原創，僅供學習交流使用，未經許可請勿轉載。
