In re Civil Commitment of S.S.

Here, the court affirmed a judgment involuntarily committing the petitioner to a Special Treatment Unit as a sexually violent predator under the Sexually Violent Predator Act (N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.24). Under this act, the state must prove by clear and convincing evidence that an alleged offender is a “sexually violent predator and currently suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder that makes him highly likely to engage in acts of sexual violence if not confined.” In this case, the defendant had been indicted for aggravated sexual assault of five pre-teen females, five counts of kidnapping, two counts of terroristic threats, two counts of robbery, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, and two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. The court found that the state’s use of expert testimony that the petitioner’s condition predisposed him to sexual violence established by clear and convincing evidence that he is a high risk to re-offend unless confined.

Topics

• Sexual violence and rape

Geographical location

• North America
• United States
• New Jersey

Keywords

• violence against women
• united states
• 2011
• new jersey

Year

• 2011

External URL

• In re Civil Commitment of S.S.

Court

• New Jersey Superior Court

Type

• Domestic Case Law

Jurisdiction

• New Jersey