The Delays in Screening Sexually Violent Predators Increase Costs; Treatment Facility Security Enhanced, Report No. 08-10, March 2008
 

While the Sexually Violent Predator Program has addressed some problems identified by prior reports, other deficiencies still exist.

• Offenders often spend extended periods in detention while awaiting the outcome of the civil commitment process, increasing program costs and diminishing effectiveness. 
• The registry of mental health experts maintained by the Justice Administrative Commission lists few psychologists specializing in sex offender evaluations.
• The new program vendor has not fully implemented its enhanced specialized treatment component for developmentally disabled offenders.
• Adding a community re-entry phase would enhance the program’s long-term effectiveness.
• While facility security has improved, the program should refine the categories of reportable incidents to better track safety and security at the treatment facility.

Which Government Program Summaries contain related information?

Sexual Offenders

What other OPPAGA-related materials are available?

• Report No. 07-17 Higher Priority Should Be Given to Transition Services to Reduce Inmate Recidivism, published in February 2007.
• Report No. 05-17 OPPAGA Report: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation Has Not Addressed Its Responsibilities Fully, published in March 2005.
• Report No. 05-07 Centralizing DCF Substance Abuse and Mental Health Programs Provides Benefits But Also Challenge, published in February 2005.
• Report No. 00-12 Special Review: Effectiveness and Monitoring of Martin Treatment Center for Sexually Violent Predators, published in September 2000.
• Report No. 99-58 The Escape from Martin Treatment Center for Sexually Violent Predators, published in June 2000.
• Report No. 99-36 The Sexually Violent Predator Program's Assessment Process Continues to Evolve, published in February 2000.

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by telephone (850/488-0021), by FAX (850/487-9213), in person, or by mail (OPPAGA Report Production, Claude Pepper Building, Room 312, 111 W. Madison St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475).
e-mail address: oppaga@oppaga.fl.gov