Personally I think child molesters should (at least) be locked away for life with no opportunity to re-offend ever again.
Having said that, here is some food for thought from a clinical perspective. Terminology used in this area is often confusing and can even be misleading.
Pedophilia and
child molestation are used in different ways, even by professionals. Pedophilia usually refers to an adult psychological disorder characterized by a preference for prepubescent children as sexual partners;
this preference may or may not be acted upon. The term
hebephilia is sometimes used to describe adult sexual attractions to adolescents or children who have reached puberty.
Whereas
pedophilia and hebephilia refer to psychological propensities, child molestation and child sexual abuse are used to describe actual sexual contact between an adult and someone who has not reached the legal age of consent. In this context, the latter individual is referred to as a
child, even though he or she may be a teenager.
Pedophilia and hebephilia are diagnostic labels that refer to psychological attractions. Not all pedophiles and hebephiles actually molest children; an adult can be attracted to children or adolescents without ever actually engaging in sexual contact with them.
Child molestation and child sexual abuse refer to actions, and don't imply a particular psychological makeup or motive on the part of the perpetrator. Not all incidents of child sexual abuse are perpetrated by pedophiles or hebephiles; in some cases, the perpetrator has other motives for his or her actions and does not manifest an ongoing pattern of sexual attraction to children.
Thus, not all child sexual abuse is perpetrated by pedophiles (or hebephiles) and not all pedophiles and hebephiles actually commit abuse.
Excerpt from
Facts About Homosexuality and Child Molestation
Bolds are mine.