Division of Adult Parole Operations

Sex Offender Information

An Overview of Facts and Resources

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Jessica's Law

GPS Tracking system


The passage of Jessica's Law was a historic moment for the State of California, which has the highest population of sex offenders in the nation.

As this population grows, the process of tracking convicted sex offenders and protecting the public becomes increasingly complex. Jessica's Law enhances the state's abilities to detect, track and apprehend sexual offenders. Jessica's Law prohibits sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of schools and parks.

To see what efforts CDCR has made in this area, and to understand the public safety tools at our disposal please see the Jessica's Law Implementation section below.

 

Parole Statistical Data

 
August 29, 2011 Data
Total Parole Population
105,137
Total PC 290s on Parole
9,912
Active PC 290s in the community
7,022
PC 290s in community
subject to Jessica's Law
6,968
Total High Risk Sex Offenders on Parole
2,077
Total Sex Offenders on GPS
7,010

Jessica's Law Implementation

Printable PDF Version of Jessica's Law Fact Sheet (PDF)

CDCR encourages discussion and even suggestions from local level on where to best provide transitional housing until parolees can find permanent and compliant residency for sex offender parolees.

CDCR IS ENFORCING JESSICA’S LAW

  • Proposition 83, commonly referred to as Jessica’s Law, was passed by voters on Nov. 7, 2006;

  • The law’s most significant provisions prohibit sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of any school and park, and mandate Global Positioning System (GPS) supervision for life; 

  • With the exception of Los Angeles County, CDCR parole agents are actively enforcing Jessica’s Law’s 2,000 foot residency restrictions.  Parolees found to be in non-compliant housing can be arrested for violating the terms and conditions of their parole, and referred to the Board of Parole Hearings for a revocation hearing, and possibly returned to prison;

  • Before a parolee is permitted to reside in any proposed residence, parole agents verify with GPS handheld devices (within six days of the parolee's release from prison, etc.) that the parolee’s proposed residence is not within 2,000 feet of a school or park. Currently, in Los Angeles County, a Superior Court Judge has ruled that this restriction be stayed. The State of California is appealing the order.

  • The law also increases sentences for some sex crimes, including life sentences for some offenses that victimize children, and modifies the criteria for Sexually Violent Predators, thereby increasing the number of sex offenders who are eligible for a civil commitment to the California Department of Mental Health  for treatment rather than being released on parole; 

  • Parole agents from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Division of Adult Parole Operations are responsible for enforcing the terms and conditions of Jessica’s Law while a parolee is under the state’s jurisdiction.

CDCR is not obligated to provide housing for parolees, but in some instances where it is in the interest of public safety, CDCR will work to ensure that a parolee is compliant with all state laws, including Jessica's Law.

CDCR is not obligated to provide housing for parolees, but in some instances where it is in the interest of public safety, CDCR will work to ensure that a parolee is compliant with all state laws, including Jessica's Law.


HOMELESS SEX OFFENDERS ARE MONITORED BY GPS

  • Parole agents monitor the GPS "tracks" of homeless sex offenders to ensure that they are not loitering or staying in noncompliant locations. 

  • Homeless parolees are also required to have daily phone contact with their parole agent  to ensure they are properly supervised, and to have in-person meetings at least once a week;

  • Homeless sex offenders are required to re-register with their local police department every 30 days.

  • If they do not comply with these and other special terms and conditions of their parole, they are subject to being arrested and referred to the Board of Parole Hearings for a revocation hearing, and possibly returned to prison.

CDCR LEADS THE NATION IN ACTIVE GPS

    Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger augmented the department's 2007-08 budget by $106 million specifically to fund the monitoring and regulation of sex offenders.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger augmented the department's 2007-08 budget by $106 million specifically to fund the monitoring and regulation of sex offenders.

  • CDCR began using GPS to monitor sex offenders in June 2005, almost a year  and a half  before Jessica’s Law was adopted, and has more GPS units in the field than any other state or law enforcement agency in the country.

  • GPS allows parole agents to enforce special conditions of parole that limit sex offenders contact with potential victims. GPS tracking provides 24 hour a day monitoring of their movements.

  • CDCR was able to place all High Risk Sex Offenders on GPS units by April 2008 and is on track to have all sex offender parolees under its jurisdiction monitored by GPS by June 2009.  

THE SEX OFFENDER MANAGEMENT BOARD (SOMB)
IS WORKING TO STRENGTHEN JESSICA’S LAW NOW

  • Assembly Bill 1015 created the SOMB to address issues, concerns, and problems related to community management of adult sexual offenders by developing recommendations to improve policies and practices;

  • SOMB is working to strengthen sex offender management practices across California;

  • On Oct. 18, 2007, then CDCR Secretary James Tilton wrote a letter formally requesting that the SOMB provide recommendations to the Administration within 60 days regarding life-time GPS monitoring, terms of that monitoring and which law enforcement agency is responsible for the life-time monitoring;

  • Clarification from the Legislature is urgently needed for parolees who have completed their parole supervision but still require lifetime GPS supervision under Jessica’s Law;

  • Currently, CDCR is working in partnership with local law enforcement to notify them when a parolee subject to GPS monitoring under Jessica’s Law is discharged by law from state jurisdiction.  This type of cooperation will benefit local communities and improve public safety.

News Relating to Jessica's Law

Information from the Governor's Office
Relating to Jessica's Law

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