Assembly Minority Leader Charles H. Nesbitt today castigated the Majority-led Assembly Mental Heath Committee for refusing to allow a vote of the full Assembly on legislation that would keep dangerous sexual predators off the streets.

"This legislation goes beyond politics. It directly affects the safety of New York’s women and children," said Leader Nesbitt (R,C,I-Albion). "I believe that if this measure was put before the full house it would pass easily."

Civil confinement would give judges the option of ordering dangerous sexual predators held in secure mental facilities after their prison terms if they are deemed continued threats to society. That judgment would come only after a lengthy review process culminating in a unanimous jury verdict. The concept has been ruled Constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, and is already in place in 16 other states and the District of Columbia.

"For many sex offenders, rehabilitation is simply not an option; they will strike again if given the chance," Assemblyman Nesbitt said. "Along with harsher penalties for individuals who commit sex crimes, we believe that New York needs civil confinement to prevent the most dangerous of offenders from attacking again."

Assembly Minority members first proposed civil confinement in 1993. Since then, the State Senate has passed similar measures several times, and Governor Pataki has pledged his support. It has never come to the floor for a vote in the Assembly.

Yesterday, the Assembly Majority blocked an effort by Assembly Minority members to bring three major child protection bills to the floor for a vote by the full House, and earlier today Assembly Majority members prevented the death penalty from being debated and voted on by the full body.