To have such a person hospitalized involuntarily, the state would have to prove at a hearing that the person met the legal definition of mentally abnormal.

The punks lead a comfortable life, living along with their mentally abnormal mother (Rose Ross) in an occult hovel situated amidst the wood.

The United States Supreme Court has declared the practice permissible for people deemed "mentally abnormal," and 16 other states have so-called civil-confinement laws.

In such a case, a further question needs to be posed, namely, did the defendant realise the victim's age or that she might be mentally abnormal in some way.

"Not mentally abnormal?"

People need to understand that it is possible to promote the welfare of mentally abnormal offenders while at the same time protecting the public at large.

Broadmoor, Rampton and Ashworth Hospitals provide care for 1,700 mentally abnormal people who are judged to require high conditions of security.

He paused, and then he said: "Would that mean that the patient was abnormal mentally?"

The survey involved a review of facilities for the mentally abnormal.

By judicial diagnosis, they are "mentally abnormal" and "likely" to engage in "predatory acts of sexual violence."