Since 2003, the California Department of State Hospitals has paid a single vendor around $93 million to oversee the release of 56 sexually violent predators — an average cost of about $1.6 million per predator, according to a recent report from the California State Auditor.
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Sexually violent predators are individuals who are convicted of violent sexual crimes and also have a significant mental health condition. When their prison terms ends, a judge can civilly commit them to a state hospital, release them unconditionally or direct them into the DSH’s conditional release program.
DSH contracts with a company called Liberty Healthcare to find housing placements, provide mental health treatment and supervise participants, among other services. The goal is to safely transition released predators into communities and prevent them from reoffending.
The audit found the program is effective at reducing reoffense rates, albeit at a very high price tag.
Of the 56 people who have participated in the program, only two have been reconvicted of criminal acts — one for possessing child pornography and the other for a violation of a reporting requirement for sex offenders.
In comparison, of the 125 sexual predators that have been unconditionally released by judges since 2006, 24 have been convicted again on a total of 42 felonies, two of which were for sexually violent offenses and five of which were for offenses of a sexual nature.
The audit said a key reason the program helps lower reoffense rates is because participants are closely monitored and can be recommitted to state hospitals if deemed dangerous, which happened to 18 of the 56 participants.
The audit examined annual program costs from fiscal years 2003-04 through 2023-24 and found that costs jumped nearly 75% from fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23 — from $6.6 million to $11.5 million. This hike was attributed to rising costs of housing, an increased number of participants, the addition of private security and higher rates charged by Liberty Healthcare.
DSH has made four attempts to secure contract bids from vendors other than Liberty Healthcare, but has been unsuccessful.
The program’s high cost and the disturbing number of sexual predators released into residential communities has generated significant criticism from elected officials and impacted community members.
One of the program’s fiercest critics is California Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-Santee), who called for the audit in 2023 and recently said the audit’s findings depict a “costly, wasteful and dangerous” program.
“Despite the high price tag, the audit reveals critical lapses in safety oversight and even reoffenses among released [sexually violent predators],” said Jones in a statement on the results. “The bottom line is that the safety of children, the elderly, and other vulnerable Californians has been given short-shrift by Liberty Healthcare and casual monitoring by [DSH].”
Jones said that released sexual predators should be housed on state property under constant supervision, instead of in regular apartments or homes, and that he looks forward to working with the Legislature next year to improve the program.
The conditional release program often receives major pushback when participants are being placed in communities.
Residents in the Antelope Valley, for example, were infuriated last month when they learned that the notorious “Pillowcase Rapist” was moving in under the conditional release program. The rapist, Christopher Hubbart, was conditionally released into Palmdale in 2014, only to be recommitted to the Coalinga State Hospital in 2017 following evidence that he’d violated the terms of his release.
The taxpayers would be better off if the state either left them in prison foe life w/o parole or simply executed them.
Sorry – but I vote for the 2nd solution!!! Tired of hearing about kids and women being raped and then left with NO help or worse, DEAD!!! They, the Dims, apparently don’t give a flyin’ sh!t about us.
Cancel the Dims – send them packing – and send the sex-freaks with them.