§20971 Jimmy Ryce State civil commitment programs for sexually dangerous persons

Summary

Authorizes the Attorney General to give grants to states and other jurisdictions to set up, improve, or run civil commitment programs for sexually dangerous people. Grants cannot pay for transitional housing located in or near places where children or other vulnerable people are likely to meet those individuals. To qualify for a grant, a jurisdiction must, by 2 years after July 27, 2006, either have a program that follows the Attorney General’s guidelines or submit a plan to create one. The Attorney General can extend that deadline for a jurisdiction in special cases. Programs must notify a state official before the release of anyone who was convicted of a sexually violent offense or is judged high risk to reoffend against a minor, and the state official must then decide whether to start civil commitment proceedings. Each year by January 31, starting in 2008, the Attorney General must report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on how jurisdictions are doing and on rates of sexually violent offenses. Definitions: civil commitment program — secure confinement with care and treatment and follow-up supervision; sexually dangerous person — someone with a serious mental illness or disorder that makes it hard to stop sexually violent conduct or child molestation; jurisdiction — as defined elsewhere. Up to $10,000,000 is authorized for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2010.