Latest news with #Swick
New York Post
23-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
4 shocking ways Mercury retrograde can mess with your money
Welcome to the calamity rodeo, folks. We're in the opening scenes of Mercury retrograde in Leo, which began on July 17 and will extend through August 11 when the planet goes direct in the sign of the big cat and the child star. Mercury will continue to throw a hitch in the collective giddy up until the planet clears its post-retrograde shadow or retroshade on August 25. It's common knowledge that Mercury rules communication and cognition, making travel, texting, and interpersonal relationships perilous during this transit. However, Mercury also governs commerce and trade, thieving, and spending, and can have a direct bearing on your finances. Advertisement 3 Mercury will retrograde in Leo – the sign that rules pride, ego, and bold financial moves. Aleksandar – 'Mercury will retrograde in Leo — the sign that rules pride, ego, and bold financial moves — so brace yourself for payment failures, mysterious charges, and tech glitches that could drain your account and leave you scrambling,' Kate Swick of Casinos Analyzer told The Post. According to Swick, the only way to combat the chaos is to make like the planet itself 'go backward. Rethink. Recheck. Reframe.' Advertisement Below, she shares the four tips she swears by to stabilize finances during this meddlesome transit. Rethink before you spend 'Mercury Retrograde gives us a chance to lean into all the 're' words, such as rethink, reorganize, reframe, and reconsider,' said Swick. 'If you've been a little sloppy with money, this can be a wake-up call to shift how you're spending. Mercury Retrograde can mess with your financial clarity, making it easier to miss details, rush into decisions, or act on bad info.' Swick notes that because this retrograde is retrograding in Leo, those born under the sign of Leo and those with personal planets that fall between 4-15 degrees of Leo will be more sensitive to the energy of this transit. Check yourself before you wreck yourself Advertisement 3 Mercury retrograde increases the likelihood that a canceled subscription will fall through or a monthly charge will go unnoticed. Nuttapong punna – 'More often, Mercury Retrograde stirs up issues on the clerical side: things like payment errors, password resets, fraud alerts, or money-related paperwork that needs a second look,' warned Swick, who urges extra caution during this window. 'It can cause miscommunication and mistakes, so always double-check your financial contracts, agreements, and transactions under this energy.' She noted that Mercury retrograde increases the likelihood that a canceled subscription will fall through or a monthly charge will go unnoticed. Advertisement Keep an eye on your bottom line so you don't slip up. Take your life from messy to managed 3 'Mercury is not directly responsible for making bad decisions, but it is known to be a bit of a trickster,' Swick explained – Swick shared that while Mercury appears to be moving backwards in the sky, we can mirror that energy to our ultimate benefit. 'Mercury Retrograde is the perfect time to handle the practical stuff we usually put off, like backing up data, checking passport dates, or updating beneficiaries. Small actions, such as adding a beneficiary to your bank account or creating a password cheat sheet, can save you major headaches later. When you lean into this energy by tying up loose ends and protecting what matters, you come out more grounded and prepared.' Don't let stress run the show 'Mercury is not directly responsible for making bad decisions, but it is known to be a bit of a trickster,' Swick explained. 'It can affect how we react to stress and how clearly we think.' Things to avoid: unnecessary purchases and the tantalizing bait of conflict. Advertisement 'Mercury Retrograde isn't ideal for big, bold financial moves. It's not the time to dive into major investments or start something entirely new. But that doesn't mean you have to hit pause on everything.' Swick shared that by slowing down our reaction time and taking care to review details, we can stay in control and operate from a place of balanced reason rather than poor impulse control. Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Meteorologists using multiple detection systems to track lightning during U.S. Open
There could be a significant challenge with the weather as the U.S. Open at Oakmont gets into the final rounds. That's because rain and even storms are showing up in the forecast. The saying goes, 'When thunder roars, head indoors.' That is not so easy when the conversation includes 40,000 people on a wide-open golf course. Safety decisions might have to be made long before a storm arrives. 'Lightning striking a certain number of miles away from you doesn't always dictate whether or not you're safe or not. It's just to tell you that a lightning strike actually occurred. But for us, our goal is to give you whatever number of minutes you need to bring everyone in,' said Thor Guard Inc., Chief Meteorologist Jack Swick. With the wide, expansive area of Oakmont Country Club, it can easily be a 15-20 minute walk to a safe area. The USGA employs Thor Guard to literally be its eyes to the sky with two lightning detection systems and three weather stations on the course for the U.S. Open. While the final decision to clear the course is completely up to the USGA, Swick and his team are the go-to around the clock. 'We want 30-plus minutes to get everybody to go to the right spots, but the goal is to give them the right amount of time before lightning becomes more imminent, rather than just saying, 'Hey, it struck a certain distance away,' Swick said. Those extra minutes of prediction, not just detection, can go a long way in saving lives. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
As storms approach U.S. Open, this single weatherman has lots to watch (and a great view)
As storms approach U.S. Open, this single weatherman has lots to watch (and a great view) Storms that just rolled through Texas, causing severe flooding in areas like San Antonio, will reach the U.S. Open at some point this weekend, with many expecting the rain to come through on Saturday during the third round of play at Oakmont Country Club. Since the weather has a massive impact on a golf tournament, the USGA uses an on-site forecaster to keep an eye on potential issues. Meteorologist Jake Swick is that person. According to a story at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Swick has taken residence in the women's locker room at Oakmont, where he's constantly monitoring the weather, including any lightning that can stop play. From the story: 'Oakmont is one of my favorite spots because I've been in this area of the clubhouse overlooking part of the golf course for pretty much every time I've worked here,' he said. 'And it's one of the best offices I could possibly imagine.' Swick, 45, of Orlando is the vice president and chief meteorologist at Thor Guard, an independent company the United States Golf Association has used as its main lightning prediction company for about 30 years. Thor Guard, which is based out of the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., area, started monitoring all of the weather for the USGA in 2007. Swick joined Thor Guard in 2005, and he's been forecasting the weather at U.S. Opens and other PGA golf tournaments consistently since 2012. It's his fourth time at Oakmont. 'We work with the USGA and give them our advice, and they take that information and make the right call,' he said. According to Swick, there are two lightning prediction systems and three weather stations at Oakmont this year, with much of the apparatus on the roof of the clubhouse. Thor Guard systems, which are made in the United States and sold worldwide, monitor lightning, wind, humidity, temperature, rainfall and any other weather knowledge needed. With a setup that includes three computers and an iPad, he's monitoring the club's almost 200 acres daily. 'Honestly, doing this job, I grab every bit of weather information I can because I want it to be as accurate as possible,' Swick said. 'Every little bit of information helps.' So what does Swick see for the weekend? He's hoping it will stay similar to Thursday, which saw calm, sunny weather.
CNN
03-04-2025
- CNN
Neighbors condemn placing of ‘Pillowcase Rapist' in their remote community
To reach Diane Swick's rural California homestead, you have to drive 70 miles north of Los Angeles and traverse a rocky road best suited for an ATV. Few come here without a good reason. But a man dubbed the 'Pillowcase Rapist' had no trouble getting to Pearblossom — in fact, he got a court-mandated escort to the community nearly two weeks ago. Christopher Hubbart, 73, is now Swick's next-door neighbor. 'We are women and that's his prey,' Swick said. The 61-year-old had heart surgery last year and says she was depressed when she first heard Hubbart was coming. 'Now I'm mad,' she told CNN from her back porch, within eyeshot of Hubbart's rented home. 'I've never had to lock my doors for the 28 years I've lived here, and now that's been taken away from us.' Hubbart's release has reignited a debate over how the state should handle the most extreme sexual offenders in its custody, including those like Hubbart who attacked again after serving multiple sentences. Hubbart was charged with dozens of sexual assaults dating back to the 1970s and spent seven years in a state mental hospital after pleading guilty to one count of rape and three counts of sodomy. Court records show he was released in 1979 to an outpatient program in the San Francisco Bay area, and 'within a few months' sexually assaulted about 15 women after breaking into their homes. He would 'bind the victim's hands, cover her head, and commit forcible sex acts,' court records allege. In 1982, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison and released in 1990 after serving about half of his time. Once free, he raped again. 'Within a two-day period, Hubbart attempted to sexually assault one woman and actually assaulted another,' court records state. His parole was revoked, and he was returned to prison. Until last month, he was held in a state hospital awaiting placement into a home as part of California's 'Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Conditional Release Program.' It's designed for predators in state hospitals 'to safely transition back to being a fully functional member of the community,' according to a fact sheet from the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH). 'I have no problem with someone who has gone to prison, done their time and paid their debt to society,' said Linda Adams, who lives across the street from Hubbart. 'But how can you pay a debt for (that many) rapes? It's not something that just goes away.' Rachel Purcell lives down the street from Hubbart's new home and says she now walks with bear spray. 'Any male Caucasian that I see coming up to me, I'm going to be wary,' she told CNN. 'And if he gets within 30 feet of me, he's getting sprayed.' It's not just residents who are irate. Politicians have voiced opposition since last September when the Antelope Valley was identified as Hubbart's next home by Liberty Healthcare, a state contractor that oversees SVP cases. 'A man who has admitted to raping over 40 women and suspected of raping dozens more is not fit for release or community reintegration at any level,' wrote Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger in a letter to the Superior Court. The district attorney's office also opposed the move. Hubbart did not respond to a letter sent from CNN prior to his release from the Coalinga State Hospital. Outside his new home, a representative from Liberty declined to submit CNN's request to speak with Hubbart. A Liberty spokesperson referred all questions to DSH. Hubbart is now neighbor to a mix of about two dozen suburban-style homes and dusty ranches, flanked by the San Gabriel mountains, where many enjoy the peace and pitch black of a country night. 'It's the whole reason I moved up here,' Purcell said. But that isolation now seems like a liability, she admits, as the nearest law enforcement station is at least 15 miles away. 'Half of us don't have reliable cell (service) at all,' Adams agreed. 'Our landline goes out frequently, and there's no urgency in repairing it. If (Hubbart) approached my property none of my neighbors would hear me if I needed assistance.' Neighbors here don't dispute that Hubbart's release happened through proper legal channels. The 1996 Sexually Violent Predator Act allows for treatment and rehabilitation for SVPs who have completed their prison sentence. In Hubbart's case, a Santa Clara County court first deemed him suitable for release from a state hospital in 2014. Placement into his current home has been approved and overseen by a Los Angeles County judge — even if some residents scoff at the process. 'The judge said he would make the decision based on whether he would put (Hubbart) across from his own family,' Adams said. 'So, he must hate his family.' The case played out in a mental health court in hearings livestreamed to the public. However, the case files remain sealed. In its fact sheet on the SVP program, DSH says a court can only approve conditional release when it has determined 'the individual would not be a danger to the health and safety of others in that it is not likely that the person will engage in sexually violent criminal behavior due to the person's diagnosed mental disorder if under supervision and treatment in the community.' It continued that treatment was given after someone seeking release had completed their criminal sentences. 'In making its determination, the court generally considers treatment records, assessments, and information provided by mental health professionals and forensic evaluators.' Others who live in this high desert section of the county say what stings even more is that this is the third sex criminal released to this region. The Los Angeles County District Attorney, Nathan Hochman, accused the state of treating the Antelope Valley as a 'dumping ground' for sexually violent predators. DSH countered, telling CNN it must legally consider factors like proximity to schools and parks, which 'significantly limit(s)' suitable options to 'outside of dense, urban areas.' In an email, the department said: 'DSH does not place individuals designated as SVP into the community until a court has determined it is safe and appropriate to do so. It is also the court that ultimately approves the placement location.' That's not good enough for Mary Jeters, a local resident who operates the Facebook page 'No SVP's in the Antelope Valley.' 'My frustration has gone past the point where I'm going to scream about it,' Jeters said. She disputes the notion that rural areas equate to safer locations. 'These SVPs are not going to be restricted to being in their house all the time,' Jeters said. 'They bring them out to go to doctors' appointments, they go shopping. People don't know who they're standing next to in line, you don't know who's talking to your daughter.' I just don't trust that he can be trusted Mary Jeters, resident Citing patient privacy laws, DSH declined to speak specifically about Hubbart's case but confirmed there are several safeguards at the home of any released prisoner placed in the community. They include 24-hour GPS monitoring, covert surveillance, unannounced and scheduled home visits, and advanced approval — including routes of travel — for scheduled outings. 'The close supervision is there to guard against the individual committing any new crimes,' DSH said in a statement. Security cameras are also visible at Hubbart's home and residents say a private security guard has been posted at the home around the clock. 'They're just watching that we don't bother him,' said Purcell, a neighbor, adding her view was that 'the security is to protect him, not to keep him locked up.' Jeters said some residents have been the target of restraining orders by other former inmates in the area who felt harassed, but that the goal is to protest peacefully. She held a public gathering Sunday on vacant land next to Hubbart's new home. 'I just don't trust that he can be trusted,' Jeters said, noting this is Hubbart's second attempt at a successful release in the area. The first came in 2014, but two years later Hubbart was sent back to a state hospital for violating his release terms. DSH declined to confirm details of the violation, again citing privacy laws. In 2016, Hubbart's former parole officer praised his return to custody. 'Christopher Hubbart is a waste of a human heart,' John Bays, then retired, told the Los Angeles Times. 'He never should have gotten out.' Swick, the next-door neighbor, wonders why this time would be any different. She feels her community is being piled on and that in addition to safety issues, the neighborhood has been affected by depressed property values in the wake of 2020's Bobcat fire. 'We lost our barn, we lost a tractor, we lost a shed. And I would much rather go through a fire than what's going on here,' Swick said. 'This sense of not knowing what's going to happen. Nobody wishes a fire on anybody, and I feel this is worse.' Los Angeles County is not the only area dealing with backlash from the SVP conditional release program. Just over 160 miles to the south of the Antelope Valley, in Borrego Springs, residents were informed in February by the sheriff that another rapist, Alvin Ray Quarles, was being placed in their community. Quarles served time for multiple rapes in the San Diego area dating back to 1988. 'Now that there's two or three sexually violent predators in that small community of 3,000 people, with one grocery store … how do you protect that community?' asked Republican state Senator Brian Jones of San Diego. Jones believes sex criminals should only be released to structures such as prefab homes on state-owned and operated land. 'Outside the perimeter of a state institution… in a fire camp, any other area that the state is responsible for the safety and condition of that area,' Jones said. Very few make it through, it's hard to do Michael Aye, lawyer who has represented some sexual predators seeking release But in its statement to CNN, DSH said placing released inmates on state-run property would not fulfill its legal obligation under the SVP Act to 'safely reintegrate' individuals so they can achieve 'unconditional release.' Jones wants to change the law. He's proposing two state Senate bills that would ultimately force DSH to sign off on placement locations selected by its contractor, Liberty. 'It basically puts it back on the desk of the director of state hospitals and holds (them) accountable,' Jones said. The bills passed a Senate public safety committee Tuesday though a similar proposal from Jones failed last year. Among the opposition at a committee hearing last April was lawyer Michael Aye, who has represented sexual predators seeking release through the system. He worried a new law would stifle the program altogether. 'Our fear is that… giving the director (of state hospitals) the responsibility, that no one will be authorized release,' Aye told the state Senate standing committee on public safety. 'Very few make it through, it's hard to do.' Those that do make it through to community placement have first spent 'an average of 12 years or more' working toward successful completion in the hospital, DSH told CNN. State audit figures also show fewer crimes committed by people in the SVP release program. Of 56 participants in the last 21 years, two were convicted of criminal acts. The same audit found that of 125 sex criminals released unconditionally by the courts, 24 were convicted of subsequent crimes. Jones, the state Senate minority leader, says the state's current procedure ignores common sense. 'It's not fair for a community, a mom and a dad, a grandma and grandpa, to live next door to these monsters, and be responsible for keeping an eye on them,' he said. 'That's the state's job and the state should do its job.'
CNN
02-04-2025
- CNN
‘We are women and that's his prey:' Neighbors condemn placing of ‘Pillowcase Rapist' in their remote community
To reach Diane Swick's rural California homestead, you have to drive 70 miles north of Los Angeles and traverse a rocky road best suited for an ATV. Few come here without a good reason. But a man dubbed the 'Pillowcase Rapist' had no trouble getting to Pearblossom — in fact, he got a court-mandated escort to the community nearly two weeks ago. Christopher Hubbart, 73, is now Swick's next-door neighbor. 'We are women and that's his prey,' Swick said. The 61-year-old had heart surgery last year and says she was depressed when she first heard Hubbart was coming. 'Now I'm mad,' she told CNN from her back porch, within eyeshot of Hubbart's rented home. 'I've never had to lock my doors for the 28 years I've lived here, and now that's been taken away from us.' Hubbart's release has reignited a debate over how the state should handle the most extreme sexual offenders in its custody, including those like Hubbart who attacked again after serving multiple sentences. Hubbart was charged with dozens of sexual assaults dating back to the 1970s and spent seven years in a state mental hospital after pleading guilty to one count of rape and three counts of sodomy. Court records show he was released in 1979 to an outpatient program in the San Francisco Bay area, and 'within a few months' sexually assaulted about 15 women after breaking into their homes. He would 'bind the victim's hands, cover her head, and commit forcible sex acts,' court records allege. In 1982, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison and released in 1990 after serving about half of his time. Once free, he raped again. 'Within a two-day period, Hubbart attempted to sexually assault one woman and actually assaulted another,' court records state. His parole was revoked, and he was returned to prison. Until last month, he was held in a state hospital awaiting placement into a home as part of California's 'Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Conditional Release Program.' It's designed for predators in state hospitals 'to safely transition back to being a fully functional member of the community,' according to a fact sheet from the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH). 'I have no problem with someone who has gone to prison, done their time and paid their debt to society,' said Linda Adams, who lives across the street from Hubbart. 'But how can you pay a debt for (that many) rapes? It's not something that just goes away.' Rachel Purcell lives down the street from Hubbart's new home and says she now walks with bear spray. 'Any male Caucasian that I see coming up to me, I'm going to be wary,' she told CNN. 'And if he gets within 30 feet of me, he's getting sprayed.' It's not just residents who are irate. Politicians have voiced opposition since last September when the Antelope Valley was identified as Hubbart's next home by Liberty Healthcare, a state contractor that oversees SVP cases. 'A man who has admitted to raping over 40 women and suspected of raping dozens more is not fit for release or community reintegration at any level,' wrote Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger in a letter to the Superior Court. The district attorney's office also opposed the move. Hubbart did not respond to a letter sent from CNN prior to his release from the Coalinga State Hospital. Outside his new home, a representative from Liberty declined to submit CNN's request to speak with Hubbart. A Liberty spokesperson referred all questions to DSH. Hubbart is now neighbor to a mix of about two dozen suburban-style homes and dusty ranches, flanked by the San Gabriel mountains, where many enjoy the peace and pitch black of a country night. 'It's the whole reason I moved up here,' Purcell said. But that isolation now seems like a liability, she admits, as the nearest law enforcement station is at least 15 miles away. 'Half of us don't have reliable cell (service) at all,' Adams agreed. 'Our landline goes out frequently, and there's no urgency in repairing it. If (Hubbart) approached my property none of my neighbors would hear me if I needed assistance.' Neighbors here don't dispute that Hubbart's release happened through proper legal channels. The 1996 Sexually Violent Predator Act allows for treatment and rehabilitation for SVPs who have completed their prison sentence. In Hubbart's case, a Santa Clara County court first deemed him suitable for release from a state hospital in 2014. Placement into his current home has been approved and overseen by a Los Angeles County judge — even if some residents scoff at the process. 'The judge said he would make the decision based on whether he would put (Hubbart) across from his own family,' Adams said. 'So, he must hate his family.' The case played out in a mental health court in hearings livestreamed to the public. However, the case files remain sealed. In its fact sheet on the SVP program, DSH says a court can only approve conditional release when it has determined 'the individual would not be a danger to the health and safety of others in that it is not likely that the person will engage in sexually violent criminal behavior due to the person's diagnosed mental disorder if under supervision and treatment in the community.' It continued that treatment was given after someone seeking release had completed their criminal sentences. 'In making its determination, the court generally considers treatment records, assessments, and information provided by mental health professionals and forensic evaluators.' Others who live in this high desert section of the county say what stings even more is that this is the third sex criminal released to this region. The Los Angeles County District Attorney, Nathan Hochman, accused the state of treating the Antelope Valley as a 'dumping ground' for sexually violent predators. DSH countered, telling CNN it must legally consider factors like proximity to schools and parks, which 'significantly limit(s)' suitable options to 'outside of dense, urban areas.' In an email, the department said: 'DSH does not place individuals designated as SVP into the community until a court has determined it is safe and appropriate to do so. It is also the court that ultimately approves the placement location.' That's not good enough for Mary Jeters, a local resident who operates the Facebook page 'No SVP's in the Antelope Valley.' 'My frustration has gone past the point where I'm going to scream about it,' Jeters said. She disputes the notion that rural areas equate to safer locations. 'These SVPs are not going to be restricted to being in their house all the time,' Jeters said. 'They bring them out to go to doctors' appointments, they go shopping. People don't know who they're standing next to in line, you don't know who's talking to your daughter.' I just don't trust that he can be trusted Mary Jeters, resident Citing patient privacy laws, DSH declined to speak specifically about Hubbart's case but confirmed there are several safeguards at the home of any released prisoner placed in the community. They include 24-hour GPS monitoring, covert surveillance, unannounced and scheduled home visits, and advanced approval — including routes of travel — for scheduled outings. 'The close supervision is there to guard against the individual committing any new crimes,' DSH said in a statement. Security cameras are also visible at Hubbart's home and residents say a private security guard has been posted at the home around the clock. 'They're just watching that we don't bother him,' said Purcell, a neighbor, adding her view was that 'the security is to protect him, not to keep him locked up.' Jeters said some residents have been the target of restraining orders by other former inmates in the area who felt harassed, but that the goal is to protest peacefully. She held a public gathering Sunday on vacant land next to Hubbart's new home. 'I just don't trust that he can be trusted,' Jeters said, noting this is Hubbart's second attempt at a successful release in the area. The first came in 2014, but two years later Hubbart was sent back to a state hospital for violating his release terms. DSH declined to confirm details of the violation, again citing privacy laws. In 2016, Hubbart's former parole officer praised his return to custody. 'Christopher Hubbart is a waste of a human heart,' John Bays, then retired, told the Los Angeles Times. 'He never should have gotten out.' Swick, the next-door neighbor, wonders why this time would be any different. She feels her community is being piled on and that in addition to safety issues, the neighborhood has been affected by depressed property values in the wake of 2020's Bobcat fire. 'We lost our barn, we lost a tractor, we lost a shed. And I would much rather go through a fire than what's going on here,' Swick said. 'This sense of not knowing what's going to happen. Nobody wishes a fire on anybody, and I feel this is worse.' Los Angeles County is not the only area dealing with backlash from the SVP conditional release program. Just over 160 miles to the south of the Antelope Valley, in Borrego Springs, residents were informed in February by the sheriff that another rapist, Alvin Ray Quarles, was being placed in their community. Quarles served time for multiple rapes in the San Diego area dating back to 1988. 'Now that there's two or three sexually violent predators in that small community of 3,000 people, with one grocery store … how do you protect that community?' asked Republican state Senator Brian Jones of San Diego. Jones believes sex criminals should only be released to structures such as prefab homes on state-owned and operated land. 'Outside the perimeter of a state institution… in a fire camp, any other area that the state is responsible for the safety and condition of that area,' Jones said. Very few make it through, it's hard to do Michael Aye, lawyer who has represented some sexual predators seeking release But in its statement to CNN, DSH said placing released inmates on state-run property would not fulfill its legal obligation under the SVP Act to 'safely reintegrate' individuals so they can achieve 'unconditional release.' Jones wants to change the law. He's proposing two state Senate bills that would ultimately force DSH to sign off on placement locations selected by its contractor, Liberty. 'It basically puts it back on the desk of the director of state hospitals and holds (them) accountable,' Jones said. The bills passed a Senate public safety committee Tuesday though a similar proposal from Jones failed last year. Among the opposition at a committee hearing last April was lawyer Michael Aye, who has represented sexual predators seeking release through the system. He worried a new law would stifle the program altogether. 'Our fear is that… giving the director (of state hospitals) the responsibility, that no one will be authorized release,' Aye told the state Senate standing committee on public safety. 'Very few make it through, it's hard to do.' Those that do make it through to community placement have first spent 'an average of 12 years or more' working toward successful completion in the hospital, DSH told CNN. State audit figures also show fewer crimes committed by people in the SVP release program. Of 56 participants in the last 21 years, two were convicted of criminal acts. The same audit found that of 125 sex criminals released unconditionally by the courts, 24 were convicted of subsequent crimes. Jones, the state Senate minority leader, says the state's current procedure ignores common sense. 'It's not fair for a community, a mom and a dad, a grandma and grandpa, to live next door to these monsters, and be responsible for keeping an eye on them,' he said. 'That's the state's job and the state should do its job.'
