Description and analysis of selection of sex offenders for treatment was accomplished through study of the operation of the mentally Disordered Sex Offender statute of Florida. This special statute for sex offenders has the following elements that are characteristic of modern sex offender statutes: (1) special treatment follows conviction and sentencing for sex crime; (2) Corrections retains custody of all sex offenders, even when they are in special treatment programs; (3) selection of sex offenders for treatment is accomplished by mental health personnel rather than by the court; (4) participation in treatment is voluntary; and (5) dangerousness is not a selection criterion. / Data were compiled concerning every sex offender (n = 1829) who was evaluated between January, 1979, and December, 1982. The goals were to describe the populations and processes, and to identify factors at four decision points that are related to selection for special treatment. Methods of statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, loglinear analysis, and stepwise logistic regression. / In brief, the findings of this study are: (1) the population of sex offenders screened in Florida is similar to sex offender populations described in other research; (2) selection of sex offenders for treatment is determined by the voluntariness of the offender, and transfer to treatment is controlled by administrative concerns, especially the length of sentence; (3) the selection of offenders for treatment is related to race, sex offense, history (prior sex offense or mental health treatment), and sentence biases at each point in the selection process; and (4) the average length of treatment under the current statute has decreased to six months, as compared to averages of 24 months and 20 months reported in other research (Forst, 1978; Monahan, 1974). / Discussion of the results include the following areas: a comparison of characteristics of the sample with certain myths about sex offenders; comments concerning the role of voluntariness in selection and treatment under Florida's special statute; the questionable benefits and problems involved in treatment of sex offenders; and whether any justification exists for the special treatment of sex offenders. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 44-11, Section: B, page: 3507. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1983.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75230 |
| Contributors | DESMARAIS, STEVEN MICHAEL., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 142 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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