Sexually Dangerous People

WASHINGTON (CN) – Before a person is released from prison, the Bureau of Prisons may certify that he is a “sexually dangerous person,” to keep him behind bars until a district court can complete civil commitment proceedings, according to a bureau regulation and the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.     The rule applies to those convicted of violent sexual crimes or molestation who “would have serious difficulty in refraining from sexually violent conduct or child molestation if released,” due to a serious mental illness or disorder.     A new regulation details how the bureau is to determine if a prisoner has engaged or attempted to engage in “sexually violent conduct” or “child molestation” and how the bureau is to assess whether the person is sexually dangerous to others.     Among the factors considered are sexual behavior during incarceration, completion or failure to complete a sex offender treatment program, and the offender’s admission of inability to control his or her behavior.     Click the document icon on the front page for details and links to the regulations. The document icon under the “USDA, Loans & Justice” heading leads to other new regulations.