According to Blacher (1995), reasons for this shift include: "recognition that not all violent sexual offenders were likely to respond to the same type of therapy; the growing awareness that sex offenders were not mentally ill; the lack of proven treatment methods to reduce recidivism rates; and the rising concern for civil rights."

By 1990, half of all states will have abolished their "sexual psychopath" laws and/or mandatory medical procedures. The focus will shift towards carceral punishment for specific crimes, alongside treatment for those who volunteer.