| Abstract: | In California sexual offenders apprehended by the law are examined by court-appointed psychiatrists to determine whether they are "sexual psychopaths" as defined by California law and need treatment in a mental hospital. This paper outlines the criteria to be used as guides in properly selecting the persons for treatment. In general, sexual offenders fall into four categories. The first group consists of persons who cannot maintain proper control over their sexual impulses but whose acts do not constitute them a menace to the health and safety of others. They are not "sexual psychopaths" and their cases should be handled on their legal merits. The second group embraces persons who have committed a sexual offense on only one occasion and while under the influence of abnormal or unusual environmental stress. They are not considered "sexual psychopaths."The third is made up of persons completely out of step with the social culture. They often have long criminal histories or long histories of social maladjustment. They are impulsive in their behavior and not remorseful of their misdeeds. Sexually deviant acts committed by such individuals are often incidental to their general asocial and amoral behavior. They do not suffer from inability to control sexual impulses. Their offenses should be judged according to the legal merits of the case.True "sexual psychopaths" have deviant menaceful sexual impulses and are not able to control them. The vast majority of these persons are those who have committed sexual offenses against children. The California State Department of Mental Hygiene has a maximum security hospital which is charged with the care and treatment of "sexual psychopaths." |
