That has been the fate of sexual offenders civilly committed as predators in other states.
Defense lawyers fear it will be New Hampshire's experience under the Sexual Predator Act that took effect in January.
Public defender Mark Larsen, head of a new unit defending the predators, and Michael Iacopino, president of the New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, believe the law unconstitutionally violates the offenders' civil rights.
They cite a ban in the New Hampshire Constitution on applying new laws to past events.
The predator law is like applying today's stricter standards to a drunken driving offense committed years ago, Larsen said.
The two also argue the law punishes people twice for the same offense, another violation of the constitution.
The law applies only to felons -- not to everyone whose behavior fits the legal definition of a sexually violent predator, Iacopino points out. That provides grounds for a double-jeopardy argument before the high court, he said.
"It really is punishing the crime again," Iacopino said.
Prosecutors note the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld similar laws in other states as long as the civilly committed predators are housed apart from prison inmates and are provided treatment.
"There needs to be treatment (to be constitutional)," said Associate Assistant Attorney General Ann Rice.
Rice said the state plans to provide treatment at the secure psychiatric unit at the state prison in Concord. The unit is separate from the main prison, which fulfills a constitutional requirement that offenders committed civilly not be held inside a prison, she said.
But once committed, predators will enter a gray world where treatment -- should they agree to it -- is considered by some to have questionable effectiveness.
"It's a highly controversial field," acknowledges state Behavioral Health Director Geoffrey Souther.
Larsen agrees.
"There are some studies that show sex offender programming reduces recidivism and some say it doesn't have any effect at all," he said.
Committed predators' cases will be reviewed at least every five years by a judge. Few expect predators to be released unless there is a clear indication they won't reoffend. Prosecutors can ask judges to extend commitments in five-year increments.
"It can go on indefinitely," Rice said.
Iacopino says prior to the Sexual Predator Act, judges had laws they could use to deal with dangerous sex offenders.
"Anybody who addresses this law honestly is going to say this is nothing but punishing people we are unhappy with whatever sentence the court gave them," he said.
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