Courts have routinely looked (and typically deferred) to forensic clinicians for assistance in assessing the risk posed by individuals to themselves or others. Common in death penalty sentencing and psychiatric commitment proceedings, the practice, although quite controversial, has taken on far greater significance with the enactment in the 1990s of laws in many states permitting the commitment, ostensibly for treatment, of sex offenders upon completion of their criminal sentences.

Found below are articles, research studies, clinical testimony, and case law on violence risk assessment, in general, and sex offender risk assessment, in particular. Your comments on, suggestions for and, most importantly, document submissions to this library collection are welcome.

Defense counsel are invited to join the Sex Offender Commitment Defenders Association "e-group" (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOCDA/) to consult, brainstorm, and (all too often) commiserate with colleagues around the country on sex offender commitment issues. [Massachusetts attorneys also are invited to join an "e-group" devoted to Massachusetts SDP defense (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SDPcounsel/).]