Sex Offenders

Tell of Helping Themselves

Nine out of ten sex offenders in California are "still walking the streets among us," undetected, "rarely suspected and exceptionally normal in appearance.'

This is the conclusion reached by a large group of the sex offenders themselves-the 10, per cent who have been detected and are being confined and treated.

The conclusion was made public by a group of patients at Atascadero State Hospital, who told The Chronicle that through California's "new, scientific approach" to the prob lem of sex offenses, they are "gaining new strength in help ing fellow patients with similar problems."

The Atascadero patients organized their own Emotional Security Program, and through this organization published a booklet entitled "The New Approach-Sex Offender to Good Citizen."

"We believe this new approach to be both unique and one of the most modern in the world," the patients' organization explained.

"The public has viewed with alarm the increase in sex

Other articles have appeared in the Review about the work and progress in 1 helping the sex offender in California's „Atascadero State Hospital.

Printed here is a recent report published in the San Francisco Chronicle, heralding in particular the publicztion of a new booklet, THE NEW APPROACHSEX OFFENDER TO GOOD CITIZEN, written and published by patients.

The patients are members of an organization of their own, called the Emotional. Security Society. Their self-help program is deservedly attracting nationwide attention today.

crimes, and judiciary and correctional departments have long reasoned that locking the offender up has not proved to be the answer. In dealing with the sex offender in California, the new scientific approach is medical rather than punitive."

The officials of the organization said that the emotional disturbance of the sex offender, which leads to his

mattachine REVIEW

(

CALIFORNIA'S new and modern Atascadero State Hospital is a maximum security unit of the State's prison system but nevertheless the focal point of a heartening' effort to rehabilitate the sex offender.

offense, "is not even suspected by himself, unfortunately, until the first commission of his crime."

Thereafter, "His fear of prison and exposure causes him to cover up and repress his behavior, making.a vicious cycle of guilt, frustration and additional neurotic behavior."

In Atascadero State Hospital, such behavior problems are analyzed through psychotherapy and group discussions, the organization's public statement said. "The patient gains a new insight into the underlying reasons for his behavior.

He helps himself to grow into a responsible, useful citizen before his release back to society."

Dr. James P. Judge, clinical psychologist at Atascadero State Hospital wrote a brief foreword to the booklet, term-

ing it "a most remarkable publication .... an eloquent expression of response and grati tude on the part of men who, in spite of misdeeds, have ! been given the opportunity of modern medical treatment in reshaping their lives."

The booklet begins by acknowledging that the sex offender in California is "a very serious social problem,”. whether the offense be exhibitionism, incest, peeping, homo sexuality, child molesting, unnatural acts, rape, or other crimes.

All such offenses are crimes, the booklet explains; "however, there has been found to be a difference, medically speaking." While most sex offenders are legally sane, “in a sense they are no more re sponsible for their acts than if they were legally insane."