ASH expansion in state budget

By Maria T. Garcia
Telegram-Tribune

ATASCADERO -- If Gov. Pete Wilson's proposed budget is approved later this year, Atascadero State Hospital will receive nearly $33 million to build a 250-bed addition designed specifically for men convicted of multiple sexual assaults.

Representatives from the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians said Saturday they don't know when construction will begin should the budget be approved. Some 130 patients classified as "sexually violent predators" are already housed at the hospital.

Locally, the construction of the wing will create from 300 to 400 new jobs, but it's still too early to know the exact number.

Leslie Malcom, spokeswoman at Atascadero State Hospital, refused to provide any details Friday. When contacted Saturday, she refused to comment except to say "the budget is very premature." Efforts to reach officials at the state Department of Mental Health over the weekend were unsuccessful.

The budget also provides $24.6 million in 1998-99 to house and treat sexually violent patients.

Atascadero State Hospital's proposed allowance is one of the biggest blocks of money allocated to a single local state agency.

The proposed spending blueprint allocated such a large amount of money because officials assume "the sexually violent predator" (SVP) population will continue to increase at a steady rate, reaching 321 commitments by June 30, 1999," according to a summary of Wilson's proposed budget.

"Atascadero State Hospital will be the only place in the state where SVPs will be housed," said union spokesman Keith Hearn. "It was determined to be the most secure facility."

Besides the $57.6 million, Atascadero State Hospital will receive $984,000 to go toward preliminary plans for a second 250-bed facility, the budget summary states.

The construction will span three phases and begin as soon as possible, according to Mike Gothro, chapter president of the local psychiatric technicians union.

The addition of 250 new patients is a considerable one, Gothro said, noting that with close to 1,000 patients the hospital is already close to capacity.

Gothro, a 16-year veteran psychiatric technician, expressed concern about the welfare of the staff at Atascadero State Hospital, saying they have not received the training needed to work with patients who have sexually violent histories. The staff has only received basic training, he said.

"Hopefully the management will come up with some serious training for the people who will be working directly with them. So far they haven't. We already have 200 or so and we haven't even turned a shovel full of dirt yet."

The formal term "sexually violent predator" is fairly new, as the law allowing the determination became effective in 1996. The law states that those who have been convicted of sexually assaulting two or more victims who were strangers or casual acquaintances must be evaluated before being paroled from prison.

Under the sexually violent predator program, certain sexual offenders are not automatically paroled from state prison. Civil juries may recommend commitment to a secure facility for those with diagnosed mental disorders that make them likely to attack again if released.

The state originally considered housing the "sexual predator" program at Camarillo State Hospital. That hospital closed in July due to budget cuts, however.

Placing the sexual predator program at Atascadero State Hospital will require transferring patients with other psychological disorders to other state hospitals. The excess patients will likely be moved to Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk.