The Assembly Public Safety Committee unanimously passed two measures by Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) to stop the dangerous release of Sexually Violent Predators (SVPs) and protect communities.
The measures, SB 379 and SB 380, are gaining momentum across the state. Yesterday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion by Supervisor Kathryn Barger to officially endorse the measures.
“We are thankful that the Committee understands the need to protect our communities from Sexually Violent Predators and moved these important measures forward,” said Leader Jones. “We also greatly appreciate the LA County Board of Supervisors’ support on these critical bills, which are the first step towards fixing this broken, alarming, and dangerous predator release program.”
Yesterday, Senate ill 380 passed out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, paving the way to create a transitional housing program on state properties for SVPs. Click here for the SB 380 factsheet.
“State Hospital officials have repeatedly shirked their responsibility, allowing their vendor, East Coast-based Liberty Healthcare, to target unsuspecting communities with little oversight,” said Leader Jones. “This reckless practice must end. Our SB 380 will help ensure SVPs are housed in state-run transitional facilities—not dropped into residential neighborhoods where they threaten public safety.”
Specifically, SB 380 implements the recommendation from the California State Auditor to require the Department of State Hospitals to conduct a feasibility study of utilizing Transitional Housing facilities for SVPs with conditional release. The auditor’s recommendation comes after Jones secured an audit of DSH and Liberty Healthcare’s handling of the SVP program.
Last week, the Assembly Public Safety Committee also unanimously approved Senate Bill 379, known as the “Sexually Violent Predator Accountability, Fairness, and Enforcement Act” (SAFE Act). Click here for the SB 379 factsheet.
SB 379 aims to prevent the state from continuing to try to secretly dump SVPs in unsuspecting communities throughout the state with no regard for public safety. SB 379 is Jones’ fourth attempt with the SAFE Act.
Specifically, the SAFE Act would:
Require the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) to ensure their vendor, Liberty Healthcare, considers public safety in any potential placement of an SVP.
Require DSH to take ownership in the placement process by approving any placements BEFORE their vendor, Liberty Healthcare, can sign any leases for placement locations.
“SVPs have committed crimes so heinous, I argue they should never be released from prison,” continued Leader Jones. “If the state is ordered by a court to release SVPs and has no choice but to do so, the state has the responsibility to do it in a manner that best protects the public. The SAFE Act will require transparency in the SVP placement process, force state officials to own up to these decisions, and make public safety a priority.”
Both SB 379 and SB 380 head to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration.
“Let’s fix this broken release program once and for all,” concluded Leader Jones.
For more information on the SVP issue, please click here.