CIVIL COMMITMENT OF SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF OFFENDERS A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND COURT DECISIONS

• NCJ Number: 860
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 19 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND COURT DECISIONS AND A CRITIQUE OF AUTHORIZATIONS FOR CIVIL COMMITMENT FOR PSYCHOPATHS, DEFECTIVE DELINQUENTS, ADDICTS, AND ALCOHOLICS.

Abstract

STATE CIVIL COMMITMENT STATUTES FOR SPECIAL OFFENDERS ARE CRITICIZED AS UNCONSTITUTIONALLY VAGUE, LACKING IN DUE PROCESS, AND AS BEYOND THE POLICE POWERS OF THE STATE. TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR THESE OFFENDERS ARE DENOUNCED AS INADEQUATE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THESE STATUTES BE REPEALED, BECAUSE THEY ALLOW FOR THE INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT OF MANY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT DANGEROUS, AND, IN SOME CASES, WHO HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME. VOLUNTARY TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE SUGGESTED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THESE STATUTES.