Evening star., 1950-05-03
25% Of Sex Offenders
Sent 10 81. EIizabeths
Reported Improved
By Howord w. BIokesIee
Associotsd Press Science Editor

DETROIT. May 3.-The first
ofiicial answer on whether doc
tors can curb sex crimes better
than prisons was given to the
American Psychiatric Association
today.
The answer comes from Wash
ington, where new law is send
ing sex offenders to ST. Elizabeths
Hospital to remain until the super
intendent says they are safe to
release. This experiment holds
that sex offenders are sick persons
rather than criminals.
The Washington report indicates
that the chances are fairly good,
but that cures probably will be
slow and expensive. The American
Psychiatric Association is inter-
ested because similar experiments
recently have been enacted into
law in New York, California and
Canada, and are under considera-
ton In other American communi-
ties.
Is Per Cent Improved.
The report is by Drs. Bernard A.
Cruvant, Milton Meltzer and
Francis j. Tartaglino of st.
Elizabeths.
The District of Columbia legis-
lation says the persons to be con-
fined are mot insane" They are
men whose repeated sex miscon-
duct convinceS a judge they are
likely to repeat. Rapists are not
included.
8 st. EliZabeth'S has "a of these
men. None has been released al
though some have been there for
more than a year. twenty-five
per cent are improved.
The first important medical
finding is that "a suffer from five
different kinds of mental troubles,
all ordinary. There is no sign that
a sex offender has any phobias
different from those of other
people.
The five are mental troubles due
to diseases, directive minds, COM
pulsive neuroses-feelings there is
something you just have to do no
matter what the cost-and split
personalities and hysteria.
Special Treatments Planned.
The principal treatments are to
keep these men fully occupied all
day. They work in shops. at art,
drama, athletic games, editing a
newspaper, playing in a band, see
ing movies and television. Six
have improved enough to be trans
ferred from restraint wards to
open wards where they have
freedom to attend hospital parties.
No specific treatment has been
discovered. The report says there
will be specific treatments and
that these will require trained
personnel. Personnel so trained
does not now exist. No predic-
tions are made on how long it may
take to cure a sex offender.
The Federal Security Agency is
inaugurating a new kind of psy-
chiatry. the association was told
In another report read yesterday.
PSychiatriSts counsel the agen-
cy's executives. They treat sane
people instead Of mental cases.
The object is to help the execu:'
tives smooth out the emotional
miStakes-their own or those of
employes-which slow production.
Learn to Relieve Anxieties.
Emotions, it was said, cause
greater losses in industry than do
accidents and contagious diseases.
The FSA report was made by
Or. Henry P. Laughlin of George
Washington University Medical
School, Washington, and DR.. Mil
ton Hall, FSA official.
The executives take the psychi-
airy treatment voluntarily. 1t is
nothing like a medical examina-
ton. Those who wish sit around
and talk with the doctors and
their fellow executives about their
problems.
They are never told how to act
toward others. The entire goal is
understanding of emotions. The
progress is slow, but worthwhile,
said the report. And some execu-
tiveS never are able to bring them-
selves to join the sessions.
The executives learn how to re-
lieve pent-up resentments. ankle
ties, the fears due to what other
people think of you and those
from family or other personal