Sex Offender Commitment Program (SOCP)

Due to concerns regarding the risk to public safety resulting from violent, mentally disordered sex offenders being released from prison, the Legislature enacted the provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 6600 et seq. This statute, created by Chapter 793, Statutes of 1995, went into effect on January 1, 1996. It established a new category of civil commitment for persons found, upon release from prison, to be sexually violent predators (SVP). The initial term of commitment is two years and may be renewed until the individual’s diagnosed mental disorder has so changed that he or she is not likely to commit an act of sexual violence. The Department of Mental Health (DMH) has designated this program the Sexual Offender Commitment Program (SOCP).