Defining Sexually Violent Predators for Civil Commitment of Violent Predators

Seling v. Young: constitutionally protected but unjust civil commitment for sexually violent predators.

The civil commitment of sexually violent predators: a unique Texas approach.

Numerous states have enacted statutes focusing on the civil commitment of sexually violent predators. The Texas statute, like many others, calls for the involuntary commitment of those with a mental abnormality--specifically in Texas, a behavioral abnormality--who are likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence. All of these states, except Texas, have passed legislation creating inpat...

Sexually violent predators: the risky enterprise of risk assessment.

Forensic experts are increasingly asked to consult in sexually violent predator (SVP) determinations. The substantive criteria for SVP standards vary substantially across jurisdictions, but typically include complex judgments regarding volitional impairment and predictive statements focused specifically on sexual violence. A common but questionable practice is the retrofitting of generic risk-a...

Sexually violent predators: toward reasonable estimates of recidivism base rates.

The sexual recidivism rate of sex offenders is a controversial issue. Perhaps as controversial is the sexual recidivism rate of the select group of sex offenders who are examined pursuant to sexually violent predator (SVP) statutes. At present, reliable estimates of SVP recidivism are unavailable. We propose that reasonable estimates of SVP recidivism can be reached by considering three availab...

Decision-making about volitional impairment in sexually violent predators.

The Kansas v. Hendricks (1997) decision, in which the Supreme Court authorized post-sentence civil commitment for certain sex offenders, appeared to be constitutionally legitimized by limiting the class of offenders eligible for this special form of civil commitment to those who are "unable to control" their dangerousness. Nowhere in the available record, however, did the Court elucidate what t...