A matter of safety

Amy Hudon thought she would be safe in the Palouse when her rapist, Monte Hoisington, was placed at McNeil Island Special Commitment Center.

He has since returned to the Palouse, and now lives near her and many other victims.

Pullman’s District 1 House Representative Susan Fagan is advocating for House Bill 1059, which aims to make it tougher for sexually violent predators to be released from McNeil Island Special Commitment Center.

 “The 300 men held at McNeil Island are the worst of the worst,” Fagan said.

Washington state sends 1 percent of the state’s most dangerous sex offenders to McNeil Island after they complete their state prison sentence.

“We are talking about the worst of the worst. Men who have done horrible things to children and women. They haven’t spent a day in treatment, and not allowed a state evaluator to evaluate them. It’s very frustrating and difficult to survivors and their families,” said Mike Webb, Washington state legislative affairs director.

The current law calls for an annual evaluation of the predators, which they can refuse. In order to be released from McNeil Island, an evaluation must be conducted by a representative, who they can select to be paid for by the state. The results are then sent to a state judge, who makes the final decision for the individual’s release.

Fagan believes the current problem rests in the fact that predators have the ability to use the states’ funds to hire their own representative, someone who may be close to them and provide a biased review.

“The predator has all the rights, and the victim has no right,” Fagan said.

House Bill 1059 changes the requirements of the evaluation. The predator must receive treatment if the predator seeks an annual evaluation funded by the state. They must be reviewed not only by their chosen evaluator, but also by one selected by the state. According to Fagan, this will ensure an unbiased evaluation.

Sharon Clizer, a supporter of House Bill 1059, agreed that the state needs to make a change.

Clizer’s daughter, Hudon, was a victim of Hoisington, a serial rapist from the Palouse area who spent time at McNeil Island. He was released, and now lives in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.

“He lives within 50 miles of several victims,”Clizer said. “If you aren’t safe in your own home, where are you safe?”

With a House vote of 93-5 for the passage of the bill, it will now move to the Senate.

“The law passed the House, and we do expect that it will get out of the Senate, as well,” Fagan said.

If the Senate passes House Bill 1059, it will be reviewed and either approved or denied by Governor Inslee.

The proponents of the bill express a desire to keep the legal process regarding sexually violent predators legitimate.

“Our focus is on the legal process. What we see are these individuals who cooperate with their experts but not ours. This makes it an unfair process,” Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said.

Not only does this reform change the requirements regarding sexual predator’s ability to leave McNeil Island, but also outlines the predator’s participation requirements at the island.

House Bill 1059 would require 300 men on McNeil Island to be actively involved in sex offender specific treatment, such as therapy, prayer circles or a support group. Currently, 37 percent of inmates are involved in treatment.

Clizer said that her daughter feels unsafe around her home, especially for her children. She does not allow them to play outside alone, and is nervous when the phone rings. For security reasons, she keeps a gun nearby when she sleeps.

“She stays in the area because if she moves, he’s won,”Clizer said.