The Stopping Sexually Violent Predators Act

The Stopping Sexually Violent Predators Act: A Legislative Overview

Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) has introduced a significant piece of legislation, The Stopping Sexually Violent Predators Act. This act represents a comprehensive approach to address a pressing community safety issue. The legislation aims to reset the current system concerning the placement of sexually violent predators (SVPs) in residential communities.

Issa made the announcement at a news conference in Poway, saying the state has released 111 SVPs, including 11 in his district alone.



“Sexually violent predators are a special group, this is not somebody who’s committed a crime once, this is somebody who’s been determined, usually based on multiple crimes that they clinically cannot help themselves,” Issa said.

Key Features Of The Act

1. Termination of Federal Funding for SVPs in Non-Secure Settings: The act proposes to end federal funding for SVPs located outside correctional or secure medical facilities. This move is intended to prevent the placement of these individuals in residential communities, a concern that has been voiced by many citizens.
2. Mandatory Reporting to the Department of Justice: The legislation requires states to report all convicted SVPs to the federal Department of Justice. This step is for the review of potential federal charges, ensuring a more thorough and unified approach to handling SVPs.

The Rationale Behind The Legislation

Rep. Issa has expressed concern over the safety of communities, particularly in California, due to the relocation of SVPs into neighborhoods. He highlights that this is not solely a California issue but one that requires a federal solution. The act is seen as a way to prevent the compulsory placement of SVPs in communities and to develop a more effective system than the current one, which has been described as broken.

“One of those predators, Douglas Badger, was eventually placed in a home in Borrego Springs earlier this year, just months after Michael Martinez, another convicted child molester, was placed in a home nearby.

“It’s a constant concern for the neighbors, they’re still there, so people that have children, people as kids that go back and forth to school ground playing, well they can’t be doing that anymore,” Borrego Springs resident Lee Rogers said.” Source: Fox5

Background Information On Sexually Violent Predators

SVPs are clinically diagnosed individuals convicted of sexually violent crimes. These individuals are often designated by medical professionals as incurable and are not undergoing treatment or in recovery. The legislation addresses concerns raised in cases like the 2002 People v. Superior Court of Marin County, where it was determined that SVPs pose a substantial danger without proper treatment and custody. A notable statistic from Issa’s office states that 70% of SVPs released into communities in California were returned to custody for violating their release terms.

For more detailed information on the Stopping Sexually Violent Predators Act and related statements by Congressman Darrell Issa, please refer to his official website: Issa’s Press Releases on the Legislation.