Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) and his Assembly Minority colleagues today unveiled Ramona’s Law, legislation which would extend the maximum allowable time between parole hearings for inmates who commit heinous violent crimes. Currently, parole hearings must occur every 24 months. This bill would allow for 60 months between hearings.

Blankenbush pledged to sponsor the legislation and fight for its passage in the Assembly.

“This is transformative legislation for the victims of society’s most unspeakable crimes. It’s a reprieve for their heartbroken families,” said Blankenbush. “Preparing for parole hearings is a harrowing, exhaustive process for crime victims and their loved ones. Making them face an attacker who has dehumanized them every 24 months just to keep them locked up where they belong is wrong.”

The legislation is targeted in its scope. It covers the following serious, violent crimes:

• Murder in the First Degree;
• Aggravated Murder;
• Murder in the Second Degree;
• Rape in the First Degree;
• Sodomy in the First Degree; and
• Predatory Sexual Assault Against a Child

The namesake of the legislation, Ramona Bantle-Fahy, survived a violent sexual assault in 1992. She shared her story at the press conference.

“By coming forward and sharing their stories, by testifying at trial and ensuring that evil people won’t be able to terrorize anyone else, survivors like Ramona display unflinching courage. To make them relive the most traumatic, harrowing tragedies imaginable so frequently is senseless and cruel,” said Blankenbush.

“When parole hearings are every 24 months, families have very little reprieve. Preparing for hearings is time consuming. Families must review the facts of the case, prepare statements, and reach out to supporters for testimonial letters. They shouldn’t be forced to relive these horrors on a nearly constant loop,” Blankenbush.

Blankenbush said that the Assembly Majority members have been too focused on criminals and have failed to show compassion for crime victims.

“These people want to increase taxpayer-funded pay for inmates. They want automatic parole considerations for rapists and murderers once they turn 55. What about crime victims? What about justice,” concluded Blankenbush.