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A Primer On The Civil Trial Of A Sexually Violent Predator, Joan Comparet Cassani

San Diego Law Review

Involuntary commitment' for sexually violent predators became the law in California in 1996. This law, the Sexually Violent Predator Act, provides for a civil jury trial.! This trial is unique, since some of the procedural protections afforded a criminal defendant apply. For example, a unanimous jury must find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the individual is a sexually violent predator.

The Act provides for the treatment of the individual if committed, and carefully crafts the procedures for the mental health evaluation and review process. Unfortunately, the part of the statute that provides for the civil trial is not as tightly …