AN INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM FOR COMMITTED SEX DEVIANTS
BERNARD A. CRUVANT M. D.1,
MILTON MELTZER M. D.1, , and
FRANCIS J. TARTAGLINO M. D.1
1 St. Elizabeths Hospital.
1. The group of patients reported is not statistically representative of the varieties of sexual offenders in the community.
2. It appears unlikely that very many of our group are sufficiently amenable to therapy so as to be "recovered" as required by law. In this connection, while we believe that their illnesses are psychodynamically determined, it is doubtful whether present techniques are equal to the task of cure.
3. Under the present law, the majority of the cases received have been exhibitionists. Certain characteristics of this group have been described. It is questionable whether the exhibitionist is a sexual criminal of sufficient menace to justify indefinite commitment and whether the incidence of heinous sexual crimes will be reduced by his confinement. In our experience thus far, the exhibitionist is in general a relatively poor risk for intensive therapy and he is likely to remain indefinitely since he cannot be certified as "recovered" as required by the law.
4. Considerably more research is needed into all phases of this problem, particularly with respect to the elaboration of criteria for prediction of behavior in these individuals before and after various therapies.
