|
|
Article: Citing crane, court suggests clarifying definition in Illinois' sex offender laws.
- Article from:
- Mental Health Law Report
- Article date:
- July 1, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Eli Research, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
People v. Masterson
Docket No. 93579
Supreme Court of Illinois
A sex offender cannot be involuntarily committed under an Illinois state law that does not define "mental disorder" even if the state has another law that does, the court ruled.
The Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act--which the court abbreviated as SVPA--defines "mental disorder" as "a congenital or acquired condition affecting the emotional or volitional capacity that predisposes a person to engage in acts of sexual violence." Before a person may be committed under the SVPA, the jury must find that the subject of the proceeding "is dangerous because he or she suffers ...