Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today commended the High Risk Sex Offender Task Force for recommendations issued today to improve the state’s program to track and monitor paroled sex offenders in California. The Governor also issued an executive order (to follow) extending the timeline of the task force, and expanding their responsibilities to develop solutions to the placement of sexually violent predators (SVP). He issued the following statement:
“My single greatest priority as governor is to protect the safety and well being of all Californians. High risk sex offenders pose a threat to public safety and we must take every necessary step to eliminate that threat. I want to thank and commend the members of this task force for their hard work and diligence in determining ways we can manage the population of high risk sex offenders in and out of California’s institutions.
“I am directing the task force to continue their important work, and to include in their responsibilities the purview of sexually violent predators that are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Mental Health.
“I take very seriously every recommendation made by this task force and will work to implement all of the ideas. Specifically, we will continue the process of expediting GPS tracking for all high risk sex offenders, dramatically improve the process by which local authorities are notified and determine how high risk sex offenders can receive treatment in prison as well as out of prison.”
The Governor’s Office will work with the Legislature and the newly expanded High Risk Sex Offender and Sexually Violent Predator Task Force to sponsor any legislation required to implement the recommendations.
Being added to the task force are Secretary Kimberley Belshe of the Health and Human Services Agency and Stephen Mayberg, director of the Department of Mental Health.
By executive order, Governor Schwarzenegger established the HRSO Task Force on May 15, 2005 to make immediate recommendations on improving the state’s program to track and monitor paroled sex offenders in the state. The Task Force is be co-chaired by Assemblymen Todd Spitzer (R-Orange) and Rudy Bermudez (D-Norwalk) and includes representatives from local law enforcement, local government, victims’ rights organizations, and the CDCR.
Governor Schwarzenegger has been a strong proponent for creating strict laws that protect children and families from sexual offenders. Last year, he sponsored Jessica’s Law legislation that would have given California the toughest laws in the nation against sexual predators.
Also last year, the Governor signed Assembly Bill 113, which limits the placement of certain high risk sex offenders within a half mile of schools. Assembly Bill 113 went into effect on January 1, 2006.
He signed legislation in 2004 to put the Megan’s Law database on the Internet, which requires the information of certain sex offenders’ conviction, physical description, and home address to be listed and available to the general public.
The CDCR and the Department of Mental Health are required by law to return offenders to their county of last legal residence, with certain exceptions, including court-ordered limitations based on victims’ requests.