NCJ Number
173372
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 37 Issue: 1 Dated: February 1998 Pages: 70-81
Date Published
1998
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This analysis of criminal justice policy regarding sex offenders in Great Britain argues that recent legislation, policy, and practice have conspired to hinder the development of a common sentencing approach among the courts and prison correctional services and that treatment needs have therefore been subsumed to wider system and political goals.
Abstract
Sentencers operate within the philosophical and practical constraints of this system. Nevertheless, the need for them to take current theory and research into account is increasing. Furthermore, the enormous practical implications of the limitations of treatment for imprisoned sex offenders, as well as the scarcity of adequate community treatment facilities, cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, several proposals should be fully explored and implemented to achieve continuity of policy and practice in both the sentencing and the treatment of sex offenders. Criteria should be developed to allow sentencers to select sex offenders for particular treatment programs. In addition, guidance should be provided regarding the appropriate length of sentence for use in connection with such programs. Moreover, more custodial and noncustodial treatment options should be developed to deal with the many different forms of sexually deviant behavior. Additional recommendations, notes, and 23 references (Author abstract modified)