Only Yesterday: The Rise and Fall of Twentieth Century Sexual Psychopath Laws

Lave, Tamara Rice

Abstract

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Only Yesterday: The Rise and Fall of Twentieth Century Sexual Psychopath Laws

Tamara Rice Lave

University of Miami, School of Law

September 9, 2012

69 La. L. Rev. 549 2008-2009

Abstract:
Sexually violent predator laws are not the first wave of American legislation aimed at committing sex offenders to locked mental hospitals; they are the second. Preceding them by half a century were the sexual psychopath laws, which differed in significant detail but provided the same basic framework of indeterminacy and dangerousness. This article looks at the history of the sexual psychopath laws. It begins by critically examining the popular belief that there was a sex crime wave. It then discussed different solutions proffered to solve the sex crime problem. Finally, it provides an overview of the sexual psychopath laws and discusses the reasons for their demise.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 45

Keywords: Sexual psychopath, sex crime wave, Uniform Crime Reports

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Date posted: September 9, 2012

Suggested Citation

Lave, Tamara Rice, Only Yesterday: The Rise and Fall of Twentieth Century Sexual Psychopath Laws (September 9, 2012). 69 La. L. Rev. 549 2008-2009. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2143980

Contact Information

Tamara Rice Lave (Contact Author)

University of Miami, School of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 248087
Coral Gables, FL 33146
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.miami.edu/facadmin/tlave.php