NCJ Number
86122
Journal
Criminal Justice Journal Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (Fall 1980) Pages: 31-63
Date Published
1980
Length
33 pages
Annotation
This survey, included in a symposium edition focusing on California's treatment of the mentally disordered sex offender, addresses the success of the treatment program through evaluation of subsequent behavior following release.
Abstract
Data are reported on 260 mentally disordered sex offenders (MDS0's) who were released from a State hospital in 1973. Their behavior in the ensuring 5 years is analyzed to provide basic descriptive data as to the general and demographic characteristics of the patients; limited data on their victims; characteristics of the offenders' hospital commitment; and measurement of their prehospital and posthospital criminality. Similar data were gathered and compared for 122 persons in California prisons who were paroled in 1973. This group is comprised of persons convicted of sexual crimes but not found to be MDSO's. Findings revealed that most MDSO's had criminal convictions prior to their commitment offense. Nearly 30 percent of the MDSO's released were convicted of new crimes during the followup period. Patients who received a negative recommendation at the time of release were twice as likely to commit new sexual crimes. Differences in the reoffense patterns of the four subcategories of sexual offenses were observed. For example, rapists tended to reoffend during the first year after release. The parole group was subsequently convicted of new sexual crimes and nonsexual crimes against persons at nearly the same rate as those hospital patients released with a negative recommendation. Further research is necessary to identify reasons for the similarities and differences among the two groups. Figures, 14 tables, and 17 footnotes are included.