Males more so than females experience erotic fantasies and paraphilic type dreams. In some cases, paraphilic behavior translates into sex offenses, including statutory rape, violent rape, child molestation, exhibitionism, voyeurism, and incest. Sex offenders can be fined, ordered to psychological or medical treatment, and/or imprisoned. Although treatment is costly, lack of treatment can be more emotionally and psychologically costly for offenders, victims, and society. While scientific evidence views paraphilias as psychosexual disorders requiring treatment, the public believes sex crimes can be eradicated with punishment and/or death. The demand for sex offender treatment has increased, and standards of care have been established to guide the ethical and professional treatment of sex offenders. The standards of care define such terms as paraphilia, sex offense, sex offender, psychological treatment, and biomedical treatment. The standards also focus on professional competence, antecedents to sex offender treatment, and principles on which the standards are based. 4 references