title: Outpatient civil commitment in Texas for management and treatment of sexually violent predators: a preliminary report.
abstract: Texas established in 1999 outpatient civil commitment for sexually violent predators discharged from prison with or without parole. These individuals suffer from a behavioral abnormality, have been convicted of two or more sexually violent crimes and are deemed likely to reoffend. Civilly committed individuals are managed by a team composed of case manager (supervision), treatment provider, public safety officer (global positioning satellite monitoring), and other professionals. Treatment consists of individual and group therapy using a standard workbook. Out of 21 committed individuals, 7 are in the treatment, 1 died, 10 are in custody after breaking conditions of commitment that constitute a felony, and 3 await release from prison. Cost of outpatient civil commitment is less than $20,000/person/year compared with more than $100,000 for inpatient commitment in other states. Texas has found outpatient civil commitment to be an effective and relatively low-cost way to protect the public and treat the offender.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, Texas 77555-0189, USA. wmeyer@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Walter J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molett
authors.forename: C David
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Liles
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Latham
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D013781:Texas; D014754:Violence / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology