Cognitive distortions are commonly viewed as an important factor in the assessment and treatment of sexual offenders. However, consensus about the operational definition of cognitive distortions and the best instrument to measure such distortions is lacking. This paper evaluates the Bumby MOLEST and RAPE scales as measures of cognitive distortions with patients civilly committed under California's Sexually Violent Predator law. Rapists and child molesters in the current sample endorsed markedly fewer cognitive distortions than the sexual offenders in Bumby's original study (K. M. Bumby, 1996). It is suggested that current self-report measures such as the MOLEST and RAPE scales are too susceptible to a socially desirable response set to provide useful data with sexual offenders who are involuntarily committed for treatment.

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Cognitive distortions are commonly viewed as an important factor in the assessment and treatment of sexual offenders. However, consensus about the operational definition of cognitive distortions and the best instrument to measure such distortions is lacking. This paper evaluates the Bumby MOLEST and RAPE scales as measures of cognitive distortions with patients civilly committed under California's Sexually Violent Predator law. Rapists and child molesters in the current sample endorsed markedly fewer cognitive distortions than the sexual offenders in Bumby's original study (K. M. Bumby, 1996). It is suggested that current self-report measures such as the MOLEST and RAPE scales are too susceptible to a socially desirable response set to provide useful data with sexual offenders who are involuntarily committed for treatment.

Data relating to the community-based placement of post civilly committed sex offenders throughout the United States has been gathered through surveys, interviews, and through the personal observations and experiences of those working in this developing area. Although relatively few sex offenders have attained community-based placement after being civilly committed, emerging patterns in supervision tools and techniques, housing options due to residency restrictions, the impact of registration and notification laws, recidivism rates, the financial costs of conditional release, and the implementation barriers that conditional release programs encounter are increasingly being addressed by professionals managing this population. In general, these programs are well funded, comprehensive, and successfully focused on deterring re-offense. However, significant barriers in housing, community reaction, sex offender self-support, and costs threaten the long-term success of these programs.