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Abstract: 

Shannon S. was civilly committed under Article 10 of New York’s Mental Hygiene Law. Shannon argues unsuccessfully on appeal that there is insufficient evidence to support the requisite finding of mental abnormality. Shannon has a criminal record dating to 1992, when he was 19 years of age, of having sex with younger girls. He concedes he is attracted to teenage girls. That earned him the diagnosis of paraphilia not otherwise specified (NOS) with a chaser hebephilia tossed in. Anti-social personality also made a cameo appearance. Thus, if we lump these (garbage can) diagnoses together, do we have a recognized mental disorder that legally may serve as a basis for civil commitment?

Keywords: State v. Shannon S., 980 N.E.2d 510 (N.Y. 2012)

Affiliations:  1: Executive Editor Correctional Mental Health Report.