NCJ Number
53633
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS IN MINNESOTA ARE MADE BY A COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MINNESOTA CITIZENS COUNCIL ON DELINQUENCY AND CRIME.
Abstract
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BASED UPON THE FINDINGS OF THE COUNCIL'S STAFF IN A RESEARCH REPORT FOR THE MINNESOTA STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. REPORTS OF RAPES AND OTHER SEX OFFENSES HAVE INCREASED FROM 1972 TO 1976, AND THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA WAS AWARDED A CONTRACT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO STUDY SEX OFFENDERS AND THEIR TREATMENT IN MINNESOTA. MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT NOT ALL, ASSUME THAT SEX OFFENDERS ARE AMENABLE TO REHABILITATION. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE MINNESOTA STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS PROVIDE THE MECHANISM FOR INCREASED COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION AMONG THE AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR SEX OFFENDER ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT, OUTREACH, AND EVALUATION. THE DEPARTMENT MIGHT ALSO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AT AN APPROPRIATE INSTITUTION FOR THE TREATMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS INCARCERATED IN A PRISON OR REFORMATORY. (IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE 169 SEX OFFENDERS IN PRISONS AND REFORMATORIES, 55 IN HOSPITALS, AND 396 ON PROBATION AND PAROLE.) OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS MIGHT INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE AMONG TREATMENT PROFESSIONALS, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COORDINATED DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE LEGISLATURE PROVIDE FUNDS FOR A SYSTEMATIC EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MINNESOTA'S COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT PROGRAMS. FUTURE RESEARCH SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO STUDY THE NATURE OF SEX OFFENDERS AND THE CAUSES AND CORRELATES OF SEX OFFENDERS' BEHAVIOR. THE MANDATORY PRESENTENCE EXAMINATION FOR CONVICTED SEX OFFENDERS REQUIRED BY MINNESOTA LAW NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED IN ALL COURTS IN THE STATE. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THAT THE COMMUNITY MAINTAIN REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS CONCERNING SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT PROGRAMS, THAT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES ACTIVELY COORDINATE THEIR SERVICES, AND THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA COMMIT ITSELF TO MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FOREGOING RECOMMENDATIONS. THE BOARD SUPPORTS THE CONCEPT OF MAXIMUM LEGAL INCARCERATION FOR SOME SEX OFFENDERS THAT MAY NOT BE AMENABLE TO REHABILITATION. IT ALSO PROPOSES THAT REHABILITATION PROGRAMS BE PLANNED TO ASSURE THE MAXIMUM FEASIBLE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC. (FCW)