Bill to study transitional housing for sexually violent predators advances

Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones on Wednesday announced the passage of Senate Bill 380, which would force a study of housing for those who are deemed sexually violent predators.

It will now head to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office for approval. The bill directs the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) to study the feasibility of placing SVPs in state-run transitional housing facilities upon conditional release.

“I’m confident it will earn his signature,” said Jones, R-San Diego.

Under current law, SVPs can be conditionally released directly into a community where they could pose a safety risk.

Results of an audit in October 2024 found that DSH spends an average of $1.6 million per predator on conditional release.

Sexually violent predators are individuals who have been convicted of violent sexual crimes and also have a significant mental health condition. Once they have served their sentence, a judge can either send them to a state hospital, release them unconditionally or direct them into the conditional release program.

The program has been run by the external contractor Liberty Healthcare Corp. since 2003.

The audit recommended that DHS conduct a feasibility study to explore whether California should implement a state-run transitional housing model for SVPs. The department elected not to carry out the recommendation, which is not mandatory.

SB 380 passed the Assembly on Monday and the Senate in June. If signed, the law will require DHS to carry out the study.

“State hospital officials have repeatedly shirked their responsibility to the public by digging in and resisting recommendations from the auditor,” said Jones. “The passage of SB 380 will ensure we explore every possible alternative to a status quo that puts children and families at risk.”

Jones has advocated on the issue of SVPs since being elected as a member of the Santee City Council in 2002. The bill was supported by a coalition of local governments: the District Attorney’s Association; law enforcement, and victims’ advocacy groups, such as Crime Victims United.

DSH officials had expressed disagreement with the auditor’s recommendation for a study, saying that transitional housing would not address the challenge of placing SVPs in the community.

Difficulties include finding locations for transitional state-run facilities, especially given that the law mandates SVPs be conditionally released to housing in the county where they lived before their arrest. The cost of creating such state-run facilities could place an additional burden on taxpayers, and SVPs would still need to be released into the community once deemed safe to do so by the transitional facility.

“A study is a good first step, but it’s just that,” said Jones. “Once we develop a strong game plan for a transitional housing program, then we execute.”