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Hebephilia and Pedohebephilia: Implications for Law and Policy  


Author:  Heather  Ellis Cucolo.


Source: Volume 12, Number 04, June/July 2011 , pp.55-57(3)




Sex Offender Law Report

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Abstract: 

In preparation for the 2013 release of the fifth major edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), the American Psychiatric Association has convened a series of working groups to deliberate and field test several newly proposed diagnostic categories. Among the proposed changes is the replacement of the current pedophilia disorder with a new designation of pedohebephilic disorder, which in turn would consist of three subtypes—pedophilic type (indicating an attraction to prepubescent children), hebephilic type (indicating an attraction to pubescent children), and pedohebephilic type (indicating an attraction to both prepubescent and pubescent children). Here, we present a critical examination of the proposed pedohebephilic disorder designation—specifically pertaining to its hebephilic type—and examine this designation’s implications for law and policy.

Keywords: Sexually violent predator civil commitment; United States v. Abregana; United States v. Jeffrey Shields; United States v. Carta

Affiliations:  1: New York Law School.

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