More than half the states in the US have legislation on sex offenders that distinguishes between those whose offense is incidental to other offenses ("felony" sexual offenders), and those who engage in "repetitive, habitual, or compulsive" sex offenses ("criminal sexual psychopaths"). This second category is the subject of this book. The legislation specifies that criminal sexual psychopaths must be treated, not punished. But treatment is problematic; the literature on various approaches finds uncertainty about the effectiveness of treatment. Pallone asks the difficult question of whether there is a prospective right to effective treatment, and notes the political and ethical questions involved in potentially more effective "Clockwork Orange" approaches. The ethical burden on mental health clinicians is heavy; despite the fact that the category "sexual psychopath" is essentially a legal, not a psychiatric, category, judges tend to follow professional recommendations as to categorization. Pallone emerges with some surprising but convincing conclusions. If the distinction between felony and psychopathic sexual offending is essentially empty, as the profession feels it is, it should be abandoned. All criminal sexual offenders should be punished, except those who opt for treatment and who are certified by mental health professionals as likely to benefit. And for those few so identified, society should be prepared to commit significant resources to their treatment. This speculation on the past, present, and future of criminal sexual deviation comes from a psychologist with a broad command of the literature and deep professional experience in the area. Combining a broad-ranging overview of the legal, criminological, and psychiatric literature on these questions, Rehabilitating Criminal Sexual Psychopaths raises important questions. Legal experts, criminologists, mental health professionals, and all those concerned with public policy will find it significant.

In exploring a series of problems associated with privacy and the First Amendment, Bloustein defines individual and group privacy, distinguishing them from each other and related concepts. He also identifies the public interest in individual privacy as individual integrity or liberty, and that of group privacy as the integrity of social structure. The legal protection afforded each of these forms of privacy is illustrated at length, as is the clash between them and the constitutional guarantees of the First Amendment and the citizen's general right to know. In his final essay, Bloustein insists that the concept of group privacy is essential to a properly functioning social structure, and warns that it would be disastrous if this principle were neglected as part of an overreaction to the misuse of group confidences that characterized the Nixon era.

Edward J. Bloustein was the president of Rutgers University, and a distinguished scholar of the law. The four es says on privacy that comprise this book were completed over a thirteen-year period, and the development of the author's thinking parallels increasing thoughtful concern about privacy in the larger society. This development is especially appropriate to discussions of privacy and the "right to know" in the current era. The author analyzes individual and group privacy as legal concepts and examines the relationship of each to the legal right of the public to be informed about, and of a publisher to publish, private or confidential information.

In exploring a series of problems associated with privacy and the First Amendment, Bloustein defines individual and group privacy, distinguishing them from each other and related concepts. He also identifies the public interest in individual privacy as individual integrity or liberty, and that of group privacy as the integrity of social structure. The legal protection afforded each of these forms of privacy is illustrated at length, as is the clash between them and the constitutional guarantees of the First Amendment and the citizen's general right to know. In his final essay, Bloustein insists that the concept of group privacy is essential to a properly functioning social structure, and warns that it would be disastrous if this principle were neglected as part of an overreaction to the misuse of group confidences that characterized the Nixon era.

The new opening by Nathaniel Pallone provides a fresh context for evaluating the intellectual as well as organizational contribution of Bloustein.