Legislation introduced to stop transient release of sexually violent predators

Assemblyman Joe Patterson submitted amendments to Assembly Bill (AB) 1456 on Thursday to ensure the legislature puts a stop to releasing Sexually Violent Predators (SVP) on Transient Status. In response to thousands of residents voicing concern over a Placer County Superior Court ruling to release an SVP on Transient Status into his district, Patterson confirmed he is committed to addressing what he describes as a "harmful practice." "The Transient Release of Sexually Violent Predators has shown to have a mere 50-percent success rate with one in every two cases repeat offending," Patterson said. "It is unacceptable to allow this harmful practice to continue. We must prioritize the safety and well-being of residents in our communities." With three weeks left in the legislative session, Patterson amended AB 1456 to begin the process of addressing this issue statewide and make it clear transient releases should not be allowed. An SVP is an individual convicted of a sexually violent offense and diagnosed with a mental disorder that causes them to be a danger to others with a high likelihood to reoffend. By law, all conditional releases of SVPs must be monitored and supervised by the Department of State Hospitals. "The legislature never intended for transient releases to be allowed. This is a loophole that needs closing," Patterson said. "The term Sexually Violent Predator is reserved for the most dangerous criminals. A transient release should not be granted under any circumstance." State Senators Roger Niello and Marie Alvarado-Gil are principal co-authors.