SVP Transient Release Case portal

UPDATE: On Sept. 1, 2023, a Placer County Superior Court judge denied the request from Sexually Violent Predator(“SVP”) William Stephenson for immediate release into Placer County. 𝘿𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩 𝘼𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮’𝙨 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 250 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮.  The judge immediately addressed the audience and thanked them for making their voice heard in the process. The judge emphasized the importance of community participation and understanding of the SVP process, and he also emphasized that the SVP law prioritizes public safety in the court’s decision-making process.  

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙧. 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 1 𝙥.𝙢. 𝙤𝙣 Oct. 25 𝙞𝙣 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 30 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙩. The Court will not take any action at the next hearing but will be requesting a status update from all parties. The judge also asked the Department State Hospitals to hold more community housing meetings. Those meeting dates have yet to be determined. 

BACKGROUND

On July 17, 2023, a Placer County Superior Court judge granted a Sexually Violent Predator ("SVP"), William Stephenson, conditional transient release into Placer County. Mr. Stephenson has been ordered released to a trailer or RV at a fixed location that has yet to be determined. The law considers this a “Transient Release” because he will not have a designated address. He will not be released directly on the streets and pursuant to state law, the Department of State Hospitals is required to provide for 24-hour monitoring. 

The Placer County District Attorney’s Office has opposed Stephenson’s release throughout all court proceedings. Since the ruling, law enforcement and countywide officials have also expressed their opposition to this ruling.
The Placer County District Attorney's Office has created a case update portal for residents to share their feedback and concerns, receive updates on the case, and learn more about the state's SVP program.