Discussion: SVP Laws

Assignment

1:

SVP

Laws

Forensic mental health practitioners who evaluate or treat sexual

offenders are responsible for knowing and understanding the laws and

rules that pertain to this specialized population. Megan's Law (also

known as the Jacob Wetterling Act) is a federal law

that requires

registration of individuals convicted of sex crimes involving children. The

Supreme Court case of

Kansas

v.

Hendricks

(1997) upheld the state's

rights to civilly commit sex offenders. The court specified further in

Kansas

v.

Crane

(2002) that

states can civilly commit sex offenders only if

there is some degree of volitional impairment (i.e., the ability to control

one's behavior due to a mental abnormality or personality disorder). The

Adam Walsh Act is another federal law that imposes additio

nal

requirements for registration and utilization of a three

-

tier system of

classification of sex offenders based upon the risk to the community.

Using the module's readings, the Argosy University online library

resources, the Internet, and the websites fo

r your legislature or state

courts, determine whether your state has legislation specific to sexual

offenders or SVPs.

Then, based on your research, respond to the following:

My state is Hawaii

·

If your state has an SVP act, briefly describ

e the requirements of your

state and discuss whether it follows Megan's Law, the Adam Walsh Act,

both, or neither. Ensure that you provide links to the information. Discuss

the pros and cons of your state's SVP laws.

·

If your state does not have an SVP act,

review your state's sex offender

register web page. Be sure to provide links to the page. Discuss the pros

and cons of sex offender registration (especially regarding effectiveness

in reducing sexual offending) based upon your review of the literature.

En

sure that you provide references.

In addition, using the module's readings, the Argosy University online

library resources, the Internet, and professional literature, identify and

describe three risk assessment instruments used in assessing the risk of

sex

ual recidivism. Professional literature may include the Argosy

Assignment 1: SVP Laws

Forensic mental health practitioners who evaluate or treat sexual

offenders are responsible for knowing and understanding the laws and

rules that pertain to this specialized population. Megan's Law (also

known as the Jacob Wetterling Act) is a federal law that requires

registration of individuals convicted of sex crimes involving children. The

Supreme Court case of Kansas v. Hendricks (1997) upheld the state's

rights to civilly commit sex offenders. The court specified further in

Kansas v. Crane (2002) that states can civilly commit sex offenders only if

there is some degree of volitional impairment (i.e., the ability to control

one's behavior due to a mental abnormality or personality disorder). The

Adam Walsh Act is another federal law that imposes additional

requirements for registration and utilization of a three-tier system of

classification of sex offenders based upon the risk to the community.

Using the module's readings, the Argosy University online library

resources, the Internet, and the websites for your legislature or state

courts, determine whether your state has legislation specific to sexual

offenders or SVPs.

Then, based on your research, respond to the following:

My state is Hawaii

 If your state has an SVP act, briefly describe the requirements of your

state and discuss whether it follows Megan's Law, the Adam Walsh Act,

both, or neither. Ensure that you provide links to the information. Discuss

the pros and cons of your state's SVP laws.

 If your state does not have an SVP act, review your state's sex offender

register web page. Be sure to provide links to the page. Discuss the pros

and cons of sex offender registration (especially regarding effectiveness

in reducing sexual offending) based upon your review of the literature.

Ensure that you provide references.

In addition, using the module's readings, the Argosy University online

library resources, the Internet, and professional literature, identify and

describe three risk assessment instruments used in assessing the risk of

sexual recidivism. Professional literature may include the Argosy