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March 6, 2007
The challenges of sex offender treatment
The New York Times, with this piece headlined "For Sex Offenders, a Dispute Over Therapy's Benefits," completes its three-part series on sex offender confinement. Here is a snippet:
Treatment methods have become particularly topical as thousands of sex offenders are confined or restricted beyond their prison terms under civil commitment laws on the books in 19 states. The laws have been found constitutional in part because they aim to provide treatment if possible; New York legislators announced last week that the state would soon allow civil confinement.
On average, the civil commitment programs cost four times more than keeping sex offenders in prison. But too little research has been conducted into how to treat sex offenders, experts say, putting psychotherapists and others working in civil commitment centers at a distinct disadvantage.
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March 6, 2007 at 03:33 AM | Permalink
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» Third Part of New York Times Coverage of Sex Offender Civil Commitment from Sex Crimes
The New York Times finished its important three-part series on the civil commitment of sex offenders. I blogged about the first two parts of the series here. In the last piece, the NYT questions the efficacy of treatment for sex [Read More]
Tracked on Mar 6, 2007 7:38:13 PM
Comments
I believe in Wisconsin they have only released 2 offenders so far from their treatment program. Whether that means treatment works, I'll leave for the reader to decide.
Posted by: Steve | Mar 6, 2007 7:35:52 AM
Why is it that with all of the information on sex offenses and offenders, nowhere do i see anything about classification.
Florida's current system for classifying sex offenders, sadly, is desperately lacking. They are not only costing an exorbitant amount in taxpayer's dollars, and police manhours unnecessarily, but also taking the rights of innocent men to lead a normal life and provide a safe and stable enviroment for their families and children.
Unfortunately, in light of the recent high profile cases in Florida, our legislature has decided to utilize a one size fits all approach to sex offenses. Further, it would appear that law enforcement is responding in a similar manner.
There are so many people who have knowledge and the ability to change it, yet completely overlook this issue because it doesn't constitute as *feel good legislation.
Posted by: heather sluss | Mar 8, 2007 12:35:53 AM
Stop these draconian laws before we all eventually loose our constitutional rights...
http://devalpatrick.com/sexoffenderlawsgoingtoofar
Posted by: janranc | Apr 20, 2007 5:55:16 PM
Not only is civil commitment of people who have already completed their sentences a threat to the U.S. Constitution's principle of the rule of law, but it also puts the welfare of custodial and corrections staff who are assigned to interact with these inmates at risk for their own safety.
It doesn't require a brilliant mind to realize that an inmate kept beyond his/her prison sentence for indefinite post-sentence detention will have nothing to lose anymore by venting his/her frustrations on the civil commitment staff. The only thing that surprises me is that none of the civil commitment centers, especially in the state of Washington where they got started, has exploded so far into any Attica-style inmate rebellion. That's probably just luck. Wise people don't press their luck forever, but the politicians and prosecutors who support these draconian laws are not very wise. These civil commitment centers are potential time bombs for the people who have to work there with embittered inmates. It's only a matter of time.
Posted by: william r. delzell | Aug 9, 2007 2:52:55 PM
Someday i missed her so much ,but i know we can not come back.
Posted by: computer keyboard | Dec 9, 2010 4:23:47 AM
