Law and the confinement of psychopaths

Citation
Wl. Fitch et Rj. Ortega, Law and the confinement of psychopaths, BEH SCI LAW, 18(5), 2000, pp. 663-678
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology
Journal title
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW
ISSN journal
07353936 → ACNP
Volume
18
Issue
5
Year of publication
2000
Pages
663 - 678
Database
ISI
SICI code
0735-3936(2000)18:5<663:LATCOP>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
Civil commitment in the United States historically has followed a medical, targeting individuals with serious mental disorders and providing for their treatment in the least restrictive setting. In the last decade, however, c ommitment laws have appeared in some states permitting the hospitalization of personality-disordered criminal offenders at the end of a penal sentence . The American Psychiatric Association has fiercely opposed these laws. The U.S. Supreme Court has given its qualified approval, although legal challe nges persist. These laws, together with British proposals to permit the civ il commitment of dangerous personality-disordered individuals, should be re sisted by all professional disciplines. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Son s, Ltd.