§20971 Jimmy Ryce State Civil Commitment Programs for Sexually Dangerous Persons

Summary

The Attorney General must give grants to states and other jurisdictions to start, improve, or run programs that hold and treat people judged sexually dangerous. Grants cannot pay for transitional housing that is in or near places where children or other vulnerable people might meet those people. To qualify, a jurisdiction must, before the compliance period ends (2 years after July 27, 2006), either already have a program that follows the Attorney General’s guidelines or submit a plan to create one. The Attorney General may extend that deadline for a jurisdiction if needed. Programs must notify a state official when a person convicted of a sexually violent offense or judged high risk of reoffending against a minor is about to be released, and that official must consider starting civil commitment or a similar proceeding. By January 31 of each year starting in 2008, the Attorney General must report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on how jurisdictions are doing and on the rate of sexually violent offenses. Definitions: “civil commitment program” = secure confinement with care and treatment plus supervision after release; “sexually dangerous person” = someone with a serious mental condition who likely can’t stop sexually violent acts or child molestation; “jurisdiction” = term defined in section 20911. Up to $10,000,000 is authorized for each fiscal year 2007 through 2010.