SCOTUS okays permanent federal civil commitment for sexual predators

[AOII Angel]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/17/...ex.html?hpt=T1

By a 7-2 majority, the Supreme Court upholds the federal governments right to civilly commit sexual predators for an undetermined period of time after they have served their sentences in federal penitentiaries that the federal government feels are dangerous. For once, I have to agree with the dissenters in this ruling, Thomas and Scalia. I don't like sexual predators any more than the next person, but I have a real problem with locking someone up without due process after they've served their time. If we really want to keep these people in jail, we need to change their sentencing guidelines. This ruling just makes me think of the detainees in GITMO who have no recourse to challenge their incarceration. It's just not the American way.

[Drolefille]

I agree, I think this ruling is problematic and incredibly prone to abuse. I think the number of people it would actually apply to is incredibly low, but I could see it being used against others.

And why do we do these things for sexual predators but not for other crimes?