Evening star., 1951-12-30
Virginia Group Asks
Mental Treatment for
All Sex Offenders
Would Empower Courts .
To Commit convicts
To Stute institutions
THE SUNDAY STAR
Washington. d. G.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 80, 1851
BY The Assoeiaied Press

" uIS SeSOSsOiSo SSSse
RICHMOND, Dec. 29.-A leg:
islative study commission recofns
mended today that Virginia
courts be empowered to commit
any convicted sex offender to
State mental hospitals 'for an
indefinite period"
Regardless Of the sentence orig
inally imposed when the offender
is convicted, the commission said,
continued detention is the only
safe course" In some cases. The
lcommission is headed by State
Senator Charles r. Fenwick Of
Arlington. -..s.>
Sexual alteration is a mental
illness" the commission report
declared, and "in many cases
such mental illness will respond
to treatment" Therefore it rec
commended that offenders be given
the opportunity Of treatment at
State hospitals.
State Appropriation Sought.
But it added that "in other
cases the condition is permanent
and the only means Of protecting
society is restraint for an indefi-
mite period"
The commission. created by
the 1850 General Assembly. rec
commended that the Assembly
appropriate any additional funds
needed by the Department Of
Mental Hygiene and Hospitals to
make the program OF treatment
effective.
The States penal institutions do
not possess the psychiatrie per-
sonnel necessary to work toward
rehabilitation Of the sex deviate.
the commission said.
It recommended that convicted
sex offenders be sent first TO q
State mental institution where
treatment may be effected. Should,
In the judgment Of physicians.
the prisoner recover. it would then
be at the discretion Of the court
whether to transfer him to o reg.
iular prison to complete his term.
! II the prisoner remains in the
hospital for the full length of his
term. the commission said. the
court should consider his release.
"1f the court finds that release
would be dangerous then he shall
be kept in the mental institution
until the psychiatrists declare that,
because of sufficient improvement,
! his release will not menace 90.
ciety," the commission recon-.
mended.
1t urged that sex offenders Be
under maximum detention" in q
special section Of the hospitals to
which they are sent Ito safeguard
the other inmates and society"
! Later, after treatment indi-
Gates beneficial results, the super.
intendent can transfer the Of
fender to the civil section pro-
jvided he obtains the approval OF
the Judge Of the committing
court" the report added. -.
/ The report said during the year
1850. a total Of 3,l45 persons were
committed to jail In Virginia
lcharged with direct sex ofenseS
other than rape, while 429 per-
sons were charged with rape, at
tempted rape and statutory rape.
OF the 429. only 81 were sentenced
to the penitentiary for rape.
Word for Juvenile Courts.
i The sex urge, uncontrolled, leads
to other crimes as well as direct
sex assaults, the commission
noted. It therefore recommended
that "in the discretion of the
court psyclliatric examination .
be required for all persons charged
with any crime, whether or not
sexual in character, for which
the maximum punishment may
be death or confinement for life.
lin view Of the fact that many
crimes non-sexual in nature actu-
'Ially have a serious sexual COM
ponent."
I It recommended that increased
use be made by juvenile courts
tof such psychiatric clinics as now
exist or may be provided ito the
end that actual and potential
!, sexual deviates may be detected
at an early stage and treatment
: provided which will limit the de.
lvelopment Of dangerous criminal
J, tendencies"
) The commission further urged
"that parents provide proper early
sex education and attitudes for
|, their children IN order to pro-
| mote healthy development and
that public agencies offer such in
structions as appears appropriate"