Citation

Sreenivasan S, Hoffman A, Cahan J, Azizian A, Weinberger LE. J. Am. Acad. Psychiatry Law 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Publisher American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law)

DOI

10.29158/JAAPL.200023-20

PMID

32680849

Abstract

Sexually violent predator (SVP) statutes are unique in that these laws allow for the indefinite civil psychiatric commitment of sex offenders after their criminal sentences have been served. In addition to the high cost of psychiatric hospitalization, recently observed low base rates of sexual recidivism of sex offenders released from custody suggest that, in select SVP cases, a collaborative justice model of outpatient placement may be feasible in lieu of lengthy and costly placement in state hospitals. Given its position as one of the states with a large number of SVP commitments, California offers an opportunity to implement a collaborative justice model for adult sex offenders found to meet SVP criteria. In this article, a template for such a model is suggested. Admittedly, this model faces multiple obstacles, both within the judicial system and in the public arena. Nonetheless, public concerns may be mitigated through high-control parole plus additional treatment and controls, interim halfway house placement, and community prosocial support systems.

Language: en

Keywords

civil commitment; collaborative justice; outpatient commitment; sexually violent predator