# United States v. Comstock **Decided May 17, 2010 · 7–2 · Justice Stephen Breyer for the Court · 560 U.S. 126.** The Supreme Court held that the [[Necessary and Proper Clause]] gave Congress the power to enact 18 U.S.C. § 4248, which lets federal courts order the civil commitment of mentally ill, sexually dangerous federal prisoners beyond the date they would otherwise be released. Justices Anthony Kennedy and Samuel Alito concurred only in the judgment; Justice [[Clarence Thomas]] dissented, joined in part by Justice [[Antonin Scalia]]. > [!note] Stub > This is a short entry that hasn't been fully written yet.