California legislature passes bill to study state-run housing for sex predators

SAN DIEGO — California lawmakers have approved a bill that would study the idea of housing sexually violent predators (SVPs) in state-run transitional facilities, sending the proposal to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for final approval.

Senate Bill 380 directs the Department of State Hospitals to examine whether the state should create and operate transitional housing for SVPs. The Assembly passed the bill unanimously with 64 votes in favor, reflecting strong bipartisan support for addressing one of the state’s most controversial public safety issues.

Currently, San Diego County houses more SVPs than any other county, with 11 placements.

“This bill calls on the Department of State Hospitals to conduct a study on the feasibility of using state-run transitional housing for sexually violent predators,” said Assemblymember Juan Alantis while presenting the bill on the Assembly floor.

Exploring alternatives to community housing

Right now, the state places SVPs in individual homes within communities after they are released from state mental hospitals. The bill proposes studying the option of state-run group homes, which could be located outside the counties where the crimes took place.

State law currently requires SVPs to be released into the county where they committed their crime. SB 380 would compel officials to consider relocating them into state-operated facilities, possibly in other counties.

The issue gained traction after a state audit of the SVP program in July.

Assemblymember Carl De Maio backed the concept, saying:

“I think we’ve made the public findings we need to make in order to allow your department to place people in a specific, far-away location that the state can micromanage day in and day out to ensure public safety.”

Pushback from state officials

Not everyone supports the idea. Stephanie Clendenin, Director of the Department of State Hospitals, warned that concentrating multiple SVPs in one facility would likely trigger community protests and delay construction.

Currently, it takes an average of 17 months to place an SVP in local housing, where state contractor Liberty Healthcare monitors them around the clock.

If Governor Newsom signs the bill, the Department of State Hospitals must complete the study by January 2027. The governor has not yet said whether he will approve it.