Court says 5th Amendment doesn’t apply to those in state sex offender treatment program

A state appeals court rules that the Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination does not apply to people wanting to be released from the state sex offender treatment program. Former St.Louis psychologist Frederick Spencer says his chances of release from custody have been hurt because he has been removed from the treatment program — and the reason for his removal is that he has refused to admit he raped and sodomized two of his patients. The appeals court says admission of guilt furthers the objective of the rehabilitation program and therefore does not violate Fifth Amendment rights.