Description
Book SynopsisPerverts and Predators elaborates on the numerous factors that have contributed to the passage of sexual offending laws in the United States. Authors Lisa and Laura Zilney weave together a story of how sex crimes laws were created by analyzing the changing roles of religion and the medical community, offering theoretical explanations for sex offending from the unique perspectives of criminology and sexology. Working under the central premise that sex and sexuality are positive and healthy and that the only way to deal with the issue of sexual offending is through sex positive education and counseling, Zilney and Zilney trace the history of sex offending laws and highlight cases in the media that contributed to increasingly punitive legislation. The authors provide information concerning the prevalence and incidence of sex offending, including victim and offender profiles and the frequency and types of offenses committed in order to give readers greater understanding of the problem. They discuss politics as a major player in the creation of a moral panic surrounding sex offenders and fueling public outrage to garner support for get tough laws. The management of sex offenders in society is discussed, as are consequences of the punitive approach for both the offender and the victim. Comparative case studies are used to explore what the United States could learn from other countries'' approaches to sexual offending.
Trade ReviewThe Zilneys present a story of how sex crime laws were created by analyzing the changing roles of religion and the medical community, and offer theoretical explanations for sex offending from the perspective of criminology and sexology. * Law & Social Inquiry *
In Perverts and Predators the authors provide a refreshing and innovative approach to the highly complex legal issues related to laws associated with sexual offending in the United States. They address a full range of issues concerning the topic and, based on cultural issues, legal decisions, and research data, shedding new light on matters such as the history, theories, legal issues, treatment outcomes, the victims, and cross cultural perspectives concerning sexual offenders and their behaviors. This book should be a must-read for all who have interest in the topic, especially therapists, clinical sexologists, criminologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, clergy, legislators, lawyers, and members of the judiciary at all levels. -- Howard J. Ruppel, Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Preface Part I: Historical Perspectives on Sexual Offending 1 The Role of Religion Christianity Judaism 2 The Medical Model The Medical Model Key figures in Medicine Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Other Tests for Sexual "Predators" 3 Is There Any Explanation? Sexological Thoery Feminist Theory Sociological and Criminological Theories The Usefulness of Theory 4 Historical Sexual Offending Laws Societal Responses to Sexual Offending Case Study: The Changing Age of Puberty A war on Sexual Offenders Begins in the 1930s Reform of the 1960s and 1970s The 1980s Part II: The Crime and the Criminals 5 Laws, Laws, and more Laws Chapter 11 6. Counting the Problem Chapter 12 7. Controlling Offenders Chapter 13 8. Considering the Victims Part 14 III. Learning Alternatives Chapter 15 9. Can Treatment Work? Chapter 16 10. Looking Beyond U.S. Policies Chapter 17 References 18 Index
