Civil Commitment
Disclaimer: This site is intended for general public information only. Information on this site should not be considered an alternative for medical or legal professional advice for specific or personal cases.
CURE-SORT's brochure on Civil Commitment can be download here.
Involuntary Commitment or Civil Commitment as it is more commonly known is a legal process whereby an individual with symptoms of severe mental illness is court-ordered into treatment in a hospital (inpatient) or in the community (outpatient).
Civil Commitment (sometimes referred to as Civil Confinement) is a controversial procedure permitted by a law allowing the civil commitment of those convicted of a sexual offense because they are deemed by a court to be a danger to themselves or to society. The constitutionality of Civil Commitment was upheld by the United States Supreme Court in 1997. See Kansas v Hendricks
Essentially, Civil Commitment permits a state to transform a criminal sentence with a specified duration into an indeterminate sentence, sometimes for as much as a lifetime. For this reason it is controversial. Generally, once a prison term is completed or parole is granted, a state may petition a court to continue confinement in a hospital treatment setting on the grounds that the offender remains a danger to society. Due to a rash of appellate court decisions, the treatment mandated is offered under a state's mental and/or public health jurisdiction and not by its corrections department.
While certainly not without some controversy, at least 20 states have recently passed laws allowing Civil Commitment, one of which was ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States. However, the court clarified it's decision in the Hendricks case in Kansas v. Crane (2002).
In Crane, the court ruled that the Hendricks case did not set forth a requirement of complete lack of self-control and held that the constitution does not permit commitment of a sex offender without a lack of control determination.
CURE-SORT's brochure on Civil Commitment can be download here.
Involuntary Commitment or Civil Commitment as it is more commonly known is a legal process whereby an individual with symptoms of severe mental illness is court-ordered into treatment in a hospital (inpatient) or in the community (outpatient).
Civil Commitment (sometimes referred to as Civil Confinement) is a controversial procedure permitted by a law allowing the civil commitment of those convicted of a sexual offense because they are deemed by a court to be a danger to themselves or to society. The constitutionality of Civil Commitment was upheld by the United States Supreme Court in 1997. See Kansas v Hendricks
Essentially, Civil Commitment permits a state to transform a criminal sentence with a specified duration into an indeterminate sentence, sometimes for as much as a lifetime. For this reason it is controversial. Generally, once a prison term is completed or parole is granted, a state may petition a court to continue confinement in a hospital treatment setting on the grounds that the offender remains a danger to society. Due to a rash of appellate court decisions, the treatment mandated is offered under a state's mental and/or public health jurisdiction and not by its corrections department.
While certainly not without some controversy, at least 20 states have recently passed laws allowing Civil Commitment, one of which was ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States. However, the court clarified it's decision in the Hendricks case in Kansas v. Crane (2002).
In Crane, the court ruled that the Hendricks case did not set forth a requirement of complete lack of self-control and held that the constitution does not permit commitment of a sex offender without a lack of control determination.
CURE-SORT highly suggests that individuals with an interest in Civil Commitment go to eAdvocate's archived Civil Commitment: Sex Offenders+ blog for news regarding Civil Commitment. eAdvocate tracked and reported daily on news items related to Civil Commitment until his death in 2018.
CURE National provided a separate Civil Commitment Newsletter for several years, copies of which can be accessed from the Civil Commitment Newsletter button below. In the autumn of 2013 CURE-SORT News incorporated Civil Commitment news into our quarterly newsletter. Copies of all previously published CURE-SORT News can be accessed here.
Civil Commitment Facility Newsletters
Offenders in several of the civil commitment centers across the country distribute a news letter to provide information on their experience and what they are doing to improve their situation.
CURE SORT is providing this medium where by those civilly committed may express themselves to the public. CURE SORT neither condones or promotes the individual beliefs or opinions contained within the information below.
Be aware that the content shown on the linked pages may not be appropriate for those under 18 years of age.
Offenders civilly committed to the Minnesota Sex Offender Treatment (MSOT) Program distribute a newsletter called The Legal Pad. A current copy of the newsletter is available by clicking below. Additionally there is a link to the lawsuit they have brought concerning their civil commitment.
Legal Pad article here and lawsuit info here.
CURE National provided a separate Civil Commitment Newsletter for several years, copies of which can be accessed from the Civil Commitment Newsletter button below. In the autumn of 2013 CURE-SORT News incorporated Civil Commitment news into our quarterly newsletter. Copies of all previously published CURE-SORT News can be accessed here.
Civil Commitment Facility Newsletters
Offenders in several of the civil commitment centers across the country distribute a news letter to provide information on their experience and what they are doing to improve their situation.
CURE SORT is providing this medium where by those civilly committed may express themselves to the public. CURE SORT neither condones or promotes the individual beliefs or opinions contained within the information below.
Be aware that the content shown on the linked pages may not be appropriate for those under 18 years of age.
Offenders civilly committed to the Minnesota Sex Offender Treatment (MSOT) Program distribute a newsletter called The Legal Pad. A current copy of the newsletter is available by clicking below. Additionally there is a link to the lawsuit they have brought concerning their civil commitment.
Legal Pad article here and lawsuit info here.