karla jacobs, a long-time advocate for the mentally ill, says the sexually violent predators should not be housed with other patients at atascadero. >> sexually violent predators are not patients. sexually violent predators are a legislated disorder and a political commitment. they should not be referred to as patients because patients can be treated. >> in 1995, after a bitter battle that was settled in the supreme court, the sexually violent predator law was passed. the law gives the judges the discretion to send the most reprehensible sex offenders to atascadero after they have already served out their prison sentences. in effect, they are sent here not because of the crimes they have already committed but to prevent them from committing any future crimes. critics charge the nothing short of locking up someone and throwing away the key. society may want these men locked up, but the cost of keeping them off the streets inside atascadero and on indefinite parole is steep. at almost $150,000 per man per year, that's nearly five times the cost of keeping them locked up in any other calif