Treatment of SVPs and Reintegration into Community Settings: New Jersey’s Special Treatment Unit as an Exemplar

Abstract

This chapter focuses on lessons learned from the evolution of the New Jersey sexually violent predators (SVP) program, known as the Special Treatment Unit (STU), and how the program managers and courts have helped shape the program to address the public safety concerns and the treatment needs of those civilly committed under the New Jersey Sexually Violent Predators Act. It is the belief of the authors that the ensuing years of program development and implementation, through diligent efforts at interagency collaboration, have resulted in improved public safety and reduced risk for recidivism in this high-risk population of sexual offenders. The chapter focuses on the reintegration process associated with SVPs as they return to their communities under the New Jersey Sexually Violent Predator Act. Each state with SVP legislation has variations in how SVPs are reintegrated based upon legislation and established policies. It is clear that some states, like New Jersey, have done a much better job than others reintegrating SVPs into the community after a thorough treatment regimen. The chapter includes some observations on the difficulties and needs of SVPs as they are reunited with the wider community and offer suggestions to ease this difficult transition. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)