In 20 states, including Arizona, people who have been convicted of sexual offenses and have completed their court-imposed sentence can be held involuntarily and often indefinitely in a civil commitment facility.
To qualify, a person must have:
- been convicted (or found guilty but insane) of a sexually violent offense or charged with a sexually violent offense but deemed incompetent to stand trial.
- must currently suffer from a mental disorder that makes them likely to engage in acts of sexual violence.
Once committed, residents move through treatment and work toward reintegration into the community in stages. The integration process includes attending substance abuse programs; job searches and interviews; going on staff-accompanied, GPS-monitored excursions; and developing pro-social relationships in the community.
AZRSOL helps individuals meet their treatment goals by recruiting volunteers to visit those who have been civilly confined and to become mentors and sponsors.
If you would like to visit and become a mentor and sponsor to someone who is living in civil confinement and working towards release, contact us at contact@azrsol.org
