NCJ Number
167690
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 58 Issue: 6 Dated: (October 1996) Pages: 82-85
Date Published
1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines Minnesota's new measures to deal with repeat sexual offenders.
Abstract
The current trend in dealing with repeat sexual offenders is treatment with an emphasis on relapse prevention. In Minnesota sexual psychopaths can be committed civilly after completing criminal sentences if there is a mental or sexual disorder or dysfunction that is likely to lead to further offending. Legal requirements include appropriate treatment programs, adequate housing, and the possibility of eventual release. The culmination of Minnesota's civil commitment law is a model free-standing facility that is used exclusively to keep and treat civilly committed sex offenders believed to be dangerous. The Minnesota Sexual Psychopathic Personality Treatment Center is considered a treatment center rather than a prison. However, if treatment programs are not successful, if current law is struck down, or if sex offenders start receiving life sentences, state officials say the facility can be converted for use as a prison. The article includes a brief summary of Minnesota's Sexually Dangerous Persons Commitment Law, and elements of the State's sexual offender treatment program. References