Title: Civil Commitment for Sex Offenders - FindLaw
Headings: Civil Commitment for Sex Offenders
Civil Commitment for Sex Offenders
How Does Civil Commitment Work?
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Content: Civil Commitment for Sex Offenders - FindLaw
Civil Commitment for Sex Offenders
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last updated February 07, 2019
Some states have used civil commitment proceedings to remove habitual sex offenders from society for extended, sometimes indefinite, periods of time. Civil commitment for sex offenders can happen after they've already served the sentence for their crime and without having violated any other laws. Instead of punishment for past crimes, this form of involuntary confinement is based on the risk that an individual may commit offenses in the future. Civil commitment isn't limited to sex offenders, as it has been used for those who pose a high threat to themselves or others and can include people with: Mental illness; Developmental disabilities; or
Chemical dependencies. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld civil commitments in Kansas v. Hendricks, finding that such laws don't violate the U.S. Constitution's double jeopardy or ex post facto clauses. Civil commitment laws are therefore constitutionally permissive and, while they exist at the federal and state level, can vary depending on your jurisdiction. How Does Civil Commitment Work?