Assembly Minority members today praised the passage of legislation in the Assembly that targets sex offenders but suggested that more could be done to protect New York’s women and children. Among the measures passed today were two bills that originated in the Minority Conference: one that would add the amount of time a sex offender evades registration to the required registration time period; and another that closes the loophole allowing sex offenders who do not return the required annual address verification form to escape punishment if they can prove they have not moved.

"While we applaud the efforts on the part of the Majority to combat sex offenders, there are several Assembly Minority proposals that would do even more to keep these predators away from our women and children," said Assembly Minority Leader Charles H. Nesbitt (R,C,I - Albion). "In hearings we have hosted across New York, district attorneys, crime victims and advocates all voiced support for more comprehensive measures - civil confinement of the most dangerous offenders in particular."

Over the last two years, S.A.V.E. - N.Y., the Assembly Minority Task Force on Sex Crimes Against Children and Women has conducted hearings throughout the state gathering testimony from law enforcement officials, crime victims and advocates. The resulting Zero Tolerance package was developed based on that testimony.

"The Zero Tolerance package we developed as a result of our task force hearings more closely resembles the legislation sought by the law enforcement community and victims’ advocates," said Assemblywoman Dierdre "Dede" Scozzafava, Chair of the S.A.V.E. Task Force and ranking member of the Assembly Codes Committee. "The legislation passed today is a great first step in targeting these predators, but the message we took from our hearings is that much more can be done."

Earlier this month, Assembly Minority members launched a statewide petition drive to force Assembly Majority members to act on civil confinement legislation and other measures to protect New York’s children from dangerous sexual predators. Civil confinement would allow the courts to order the worst sex offenders held in a secure facility beyond their prison release date if, upon evaluation, there is significant reason to believe they may strike again.

In addition to civil confinement, Assembly Minority members also propose the following measures to strengthen Megan’s Law:

• Prohibit convicted sex offenders from living within 1000 feet of a school or school grounds. (A.1654)

• Require the most dangerous sex offenders to wear electronic devices linked to Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites in order to monitor their whereabouts. (A.8158)

• Expand the information available about sex offenders on the Division of Criminal Justice Services’ website to include information on all registered offenders. (A.1701)

• Require law enforcement to release information on Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders - those at the highest risk of committing additional crimes - to vulnerable populations in the community. (A.1654)

• Require lifetime registration for all sex offenders on the NYS Sex Offender Registry.