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Sex offender treatment providers are ethically responsible for their client’s treatment; yet they are morally bound to protect society. Those who treat court-mandated clients are required to violate client confidentiality and report to authorities any disclosures made by clients during the treatment process. Using in-depth interviews ( n = 22), this study focused on the perceptions of community-based sex offender treatment providers to explore ethical issues stemming from balancing a duty of care to the client with the mandated reporting requirements of the criminal justice system, and the difficulties of working within two bureaucratic systems (i.e., correctional and health systems). Results are discussed, followed by study limitations, suggestions for future research, and policy recommendations.

This study presents a survey of state statutes which restrict the civil rights of persons with a mental illness or who have been declared mentally incompetent. Five civil rights (voting, holding public office, jury service, parenting, and marriage) are examined. The results of this study are compared with the results of studies conducted in 1989 and 1999 to determine what changes have occurred over time in the restriction of civil rights of those suffering from mental health problems. This comparison reveals that states continue to restrict the rights of the mentally ill and incompetent, and that there is a trend towards increased restriction of political rights, including the right to vote and hold public office.

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