Residents of Campo have been put on notice: A Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) could soon be moving into the neighborhood. San Diego Superior Court has ordered the conditional release of Alan Earl James, who has a history of sexual assaults from 1981 and 1985. The California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) has proposed his placement at 1138 Custer Road in Campo, and a public hearing is set for February 9 to discuss the matter.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department has made it clear that the selection of the placement site falls on DSH and the San Diego Superior Court, not on local law enforcement or the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force. This decision is out of hands of the Sheriff's Department, the District Attorney's Office, and the SAFE Task Force, despite potential community concerns. In response to the court's upcoming hearing, the SAFE Task Force is rallying public input, allowing the community to raise their voices in support or objection to James' proposed location.
Public comments are being collected by the SAFE Task Force through January 24, and these will be considered by the court and the State Hospitals Department; those who wish to participate may email [email protected], call (858) 583-7238, or mail their concerns to SVP Release/SAFE Task Force, 9425 Chesapeake Drive, San Diego, CA 92123. According to the San Diego Sheriff's Department news release, comments may also be made orally at the hearing, "subject to court ruling."
The hearing on Alan James' release will take place at the San Diego Superior Court with Judge David M. Gill presiding. Citizens and stakeholders looking to understand more about the legal intricacies, the criteria for designating someone as an SVP, treatment options, and release procedures are urged to visit both the San Diego County District Attorney's website and the Department of State Hospital's website for additional information.
To dig deeper on the SAFE Task Force and their role in community safety, those interested can find further details at their website. The upcoming hearing is crucial not only for the local residents of Campo but also as a potential precedent for how communities address the delicate balance of reintegrating convicted offenders while ensuring public safety.
