Book Review: Dangerous Sex Offenders: A Task Force Report of the American Psychiatric Association

Abstract

This task force was created in response to the passage of statutes designed to civilly commit sex offenders to mental hospitals after they have served their entire prison sentences. These "sexual predator" statutes emerged in the context of some offenders committing heinous crimes against women and children after serving sentences for similar crimes. The task force has reviewed the literature on diagnoses, treatment, and recidivism and has attempted to provide a summary of that literature along with more comprehensive bibliographies for readers who may wish to pursue these topics in greater depth. We have tried to identify those areas and to introduce some approaches that are consistent with American Psychiatric Association ethical guidelines and policy statements. We have also summarized the legal history of sexual psychopath and sexual predator legislation as well as the judicial reviews of this legislation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: preface)