San Diego City Wire

Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones and Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil have introduced a bipartisan measure aimed at enhancing public safety concerning the release of Sexually Violent Predators (SVPs). The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 1074, known as the "Sexually Violent Predator Accountability, Fairness, and Enforcement Act" or SAFE Act, seeks to address issues related to SVP placements in communities across California.

Leader Jones emphasized the importance of protecting neighborhoods from SVPs, stating, "The SAFE Act is designed to protect our neighborhoods and families from dangerous sexually violent predators." He argued that those who have committed such crimes should not be released from prison but acknowledged that if release is mandated by court order, it must be managed with public safety as a priority.

The bill aims to prevent the state from placing SVPs in communities without adequate consideration for public safety. This is the third SVP-related bill authored by Jones in recent years. The measure has garnered support from several coauthors including Senators Brian Dahle, Janet Nguyen, Roger W. Niello, Kelly Seyarto, and Assemblymembers Juan Alanis, Megan Dahle, Joe Patterson, and Marie Waldron.

Senator Alvarado-Gil expressed concerns about rural areas becoming dumping grounds for SVPs due to a lack of transparency in placement decisions. She stated: “It’s time to put an end to the dangerous practice of allowing Sexually Violent Predators to roam freely in our communities."

SB 1074 outlines specific requirements such as prioritizing public safety in any potential placement of an SVP and mandating that the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) approve placements before vendors can secure locations.

Leader Jones criticized current practices involving state contractors like Liberty Health Care for insufficient oversight in community placements. He asserted: “Families across California are being jolted by the state’s secret attempt to put an SVP in their neighborhoods."

Jones has been actively opposing SVP placements in San Diego County and previously secured an audit of Liberty Healthcare's handling of these cases. SB 1074 follows similar legislative efforts led by Jones over the past two years.