Reconstructing Sex Offenders as Mentally Ill: A Labeling Explanation

摘要: A growing number of states are being pressured to keep incarcerated sex offenders behind bars longer. The response this pressure has been look the mental health system and retrieve civil commitment for offenders, a policy largely abandoned in 1960s. In 1970s, courts ruled that institution required individual be both mentally ill dangerous. So legislators, with support few professionals, met requirement by legislatively reconstructing as permitting their indefinite institutions. author discusses process from labeling perspective