THROWING AWAY THE KEY

THE SUPREME COURT ALLOWS STATES TO KEEP SEXUAL PREDATORS LOCKED UP BEYOND THEIR TERMS IN PRISON

Leroy Hendricks had done his time. In August 1994, after serving 10 years for taking "indecent liberties" with two 13-year-old boys, Hendricks walked out of prison in Hutchinson, Kans.--and was almost immediately transported to the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility, where he has been locked up ever since. Under a 1994 state law called the Sexually Violent Predator Act, a judge ordered Hendricks confined indefinitely after ruling that his "mental abnormality" made him likely to attack again. Hendricks challenged the constitutionality of that law, but last week, in a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court upheld it.

Hendricks is just the kind...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!