CONTROVERSIAL SEX OFFENDER HOSPITAL COSTS TAXPAYERS

http://www.insideedition.com/news/5082/controversial-sex-offender-hospital-co...

 

A spacious sparkling new mall, a lovely jogging path and state of the art medical care. No, it's not the latest five star retirement community. It's actually a controversial home for sexual predators.

Dr. Maria Piccillo said, "We are now coming up on what we call the main mall."

INSIDE EDITION's Lisa Guerrero got an exclusive look inside central California's Coalinga State Hospital, where sex offenders who have already done their time in prison are sent because they are deemed likely to attack again are sent. Most are never allowed to leave.

Guerrero asked, "What is this?"

"Casino night," said Dr. Piccillo.

"They have different activities in the evening hours," said Piccillo.

"Coalinga Idol. It's like American Idol singing," said Guerrero.

Dr. Maria Piccillo oversees treatment at the facility where residents also enjoy movie night and theme parties.

A BBC documentary film crew captured a Halloween celebration that included singing the theme song to The Addams Family TV show.

And there is a beautiful garden that is also the work of sexual predators.

Guerrero asked, "This is part of a gardening therapy?" 

"Gardening therapy, yeah. It's that use of time to really develop pro-social and healthy ways of spending time," said Dr. Piccillo.

Rodney Short served 17 years in prison for rape, then was sent directly to Coalinga, where it costs about $175,000 a year to house one person.

Short said, "I get to play tennis, run around the track, and lift weights."