NCJ Number
154662
Journal
International Journal of Law and Psychiatry Volume: 16 Dated: (1993) Pages: 117-132
Date Published
1993
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The Massachusetts Treatment Center was established in 1959 as an inpatient facility to provide evaluation, treatment, and safe release of the repetitive and/or violent sexual offender.
Abstract
The history of the Center in some ways reflects a legislative response that has enacted and repealed sexual psychopath laws across the U.S. While 25 States had statutes that created a special category of sexual psychopath offenders by 1975, many of those States had repealed their laws by 1981. The repeal of these statutes has been attributed to several factors including the influence of the feminist movement, the growing dissatisfaction among psychiatrists with the task of evaluating sexual dangerousness, and the emergence of due process issues. Clinical services provided at the Center include all models of psychotherapeutic intervention as well as rehabilitative services in the areas of education, vocational and nonvocational training, and recreation. At present, treatment effectiveness is evaluated through individual reports and postrelease follow-up outcomes. 2 tables, 2 notes, and 19 references