Opinion: Don’t Dump Sexually Violent Predators in Rural San Diego County

What occurs to sexually violent predators as soon as they’ve served their sentences? Apparently they get dumped in rural San Diego County.

Rural areas lack assets to oversee conditionally launched SVPs and assure public security. In San Diego County, a number of SVPs have been positioned in Jacumba Sizzling Springs, Campo and Boulevard, with proposed placements in communities like Pauma Valley and Borrego Springs.

I’ve written letters previously opposing placement of SVPs in rural communities, together with in 2020 once I wrote to the Superior Court docket relating to putting an SVP in Pauma Valley. Happily, that proposal was blocked, however Borrego Springs continues to be into consideration to deal with a convicted baby molester. There will likely be a listening to on July 8, and I’ve once more written a letter to the decide explaining this particular person have to be positioned elsewhere.

Does the state purposely place SVPs in rural places missing the clout to generate public outcry that may block these placements, as not too long ago occurred in Rancho Bernardo? Presently, the Division of State Hospitals, which oversees placement, contracts with Liberty Healthcare, which then seeks court docket approval. County District Attorneys aren’t consulted, and have additionally expressed frustration. 

This should cease. That’s why I joined Sen. Brian Jones to co-author Senate Invoice 841, requiring the State Hospital Director to approve SVP placements earlier than contracts are signed — with public security an overriding consideration. Mandated stories would record appropriate alternate properties, together with properties underneath Division of Corrections or Forestry and Fireplace Safety management. The Director would additionally record counties and supervisorial districts receiving SVPs.

Naturally, San Diego County is likely one of the invoice’s supporters. Sadly nonetheless, SB 841 was killed within the Senate Public Security Committee by the Democratic majority. Even so, I’ll maintain attempting, and I’ll maintain doing all I can to dam placements of SVPs in rural communities.

Rural San Diego County can not stay a dumping floor for sexually violent predators.

Assemblymember Marie Waldron represents the seventy fifth Meeting District , which incorporates the communities of Bonsall, Escondido, Fallbrook, Hidden Meadows, Pala, Palomar Mountain, Pauma Valley, Rainbow, San Marcos, Temecula, Valley Middle and Vista.