THE TRIAL AND SENTENCING PROCESSES IN A COURTROOM CANNOT BE SEPARATED, SINCE TRIAL EVENTS INEVITABLY INFLUENCE THE SENTENCING OUTCOME--PARTICULARLY THE TRIAL OF A SEX OFFENDER. THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO THINK FREELY AND DISPASSIONATELY AS THE SEX OFFENSE TRIAL UNFOLDS IS A PROBLEM FACED BY LAWYERS AND JUDGES, AS WELL AS OTHER TRIAL PARTICIPANTS. THE AGGRESSIVE PRESENCE OF THE PRESS, THE VOYEURISM OF THE PUBLIC, THE INVOLVEMENT OF CHILDREN IN CASES OF CHILD MOLESTATION, AS WELL AS OTHER TYPES OF SEXUAL DEVIANCE, ARE ALL RECOGNIZED AS DISTURBING ELEMENTS BY THE PRESIDING JUDGE. THE ADVERSARY PROCEDURE OF THE COURTROOM ALSO MAKES IT AN INAPPROPRIATE SETTING FOR DECISIONS ABOUT SEX OFFENSES. THE GROWING RECOGNITION THAT COURTS ARE ILL-EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE TOTAL SITUATION OF A SEX OFFENSE HAS RESULTED IN DIVERTING CASES AWAY FROM THE COURTROOM TO RAPE DISTRESS CENTERS AND OTHER FORMS OF TREATMENT, SOMETIMES UNDER THE THREAT OF PUNISHMENT UNLESS THE ACCUSED PERSON CONSENTS. THE GRADUAL WITHDRAWAL OF THE COURTS AND THE LAW FROM DEALING WITH SEX OFFENSES IS REINFORCED BY THE OFTEN DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER IN A PRISON SETTING. A PLEA IS MADE FOR INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN SEXUALITY SO THAT THE SEX OFFENDER CAN BE JUDGED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. ONE NOTE IS INCLUDED.