(SACRAMENTO) – Today, the Assembly unanimously approved Assembly Bill 1994 by Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona). AB 1994 will provide law enforcement with more tools to track registered sex offenders.
State prisons and state hospitals are currently required to notify the Department of Justice (DOJ) when a registered sex offender is in custody. However, there is no law that similarly requires county jails to notify DOJ when a registered sex offender is either admitted to or released from their custody. This loophole means that it is possible that neither law enforcement nor the public are notified when a registered sex offender has been released into their communities from a county jail. This is especially concerning since the enactment of public safety realignment in 2011 has resulted in more and more registered sex offenders being detained in county jails, rather than the state prison system.
AB 1994 would close this loophole by requiring county jails to notify DOJ within 15 working days when a registered sex offender has been admitted to or released from their custody.
“It is unacceptable that neither law enforcement nor the public are notified when registered sex offenders are released into our communities,” Assemblymember Cervantes said. “This bill will provide law enforcement with more tools to track registered sex offenders and help keep our streets and neighborhoods safe.”
AB 1994 is sponsored by Attorney General Xavier Becerra. The bill will next be sent to the Senate to await a hearing by a Senate policy committee. You can find more information about the bill here.
# # #
Sabrina Cervantes proudly represents the 60th District of the California State Assembly, which encompasses the communities of Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Norco, and a portion of the City of Riverside.