STATE TO MODIFY SEX OFFENDER CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

The Texas Council on Sex Offender Treatment approved on Friday a system of additional tests to improve the classification of offenders who could be released from prison.  The psychological evaluations will help determine the risk an offender is to the community.  The state currently uses a risk test that looks at attributes such as age, gender, marital status and previous offenses.  Critics said the old test tends to penalize too sharply the young, low-level offenders while overlooking more dangerous offenders.

(Texas)