Sentencing Sex Offenders: Some Implications of Recent Criminal Justice Policy.

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to illustrate how recent criminal justice legislation, policy and practice have conspired to hinder the development of a common approach to the sentencing of sex offenders between the courts and the prison and probation services. In consequence, the treatment needs of sentenced sex offenders have been subsumed to the wider goals of system objectives and political agendas. A number of suggestions are made for improving coherence and continuity in both policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]