Civil Commitment of Sexually Dangerous Persons

The 109th Congress passed legislation that allows the federal government to civilly commit sexually dangerous persons. Civil commitment, as it relates to sex offenders, is when a state retains custody of an individual, found by a judge or jury to be a sexually dangerous person.

Most discussions about recidivism examine ways to decrease it; for example, by providing sex offenders with treatment. Research on the efficacy of sex offender treatment is promising, but it cannot prove that treatment reduces recidivism.

Introduction
Background on Civil Commitment
History of Civil Commitment Laws
Supreme Court Rulings on Civil Commitment
Kansas v. Hendricks
Kansas v. Crane
Civil Commitment Legislation in the 109th Congress
Sex Offender Recidivism
Limitations of Studies on Sex Offender Recidivism
Sex Offender Recidivism Data
Sex Offender Treatment
Can Sex Offenders Be Treated?
Sex Offender Treatment Research Issues
Select Issues
Who Should Be Civilly Committed?
Do Sex Offenders Specialize in Sex Crimes?
Are Some Sex Offenders More Dangerous Than Others?
Future Dangerousness
Safe to Release
Less-Restrictive Alternatives
Indeterminate Sentences for Sex Offenders
Cost of Civil Commitment
Conclusion
Appendix A. Civil Commitment Statutes, by State
Index.