RSS Feed
|
|||||
|
Local Pol Supports Keeping Repeat Sexual Predators Locked Up
"The Assembly's passage of this historic civil commitment legislation means major reforms to our criminal justice system and greater protection for our families from these violent predators," Assembly-man Maisel said. The legislation calls for the state Attorney General to decide when to seek civil commitment of individuals determined by a state committee of mental health professionals for those who suffer from a mental abnormality. If confinement is not ordered, the sex offender will be under strict and intensive supervision and treatment. Other highlights: + There will be required treatment to reduce recidivism by prisoners and for the civilly confined; + Those housed in mental health facilities will be kept separate from vulnerable mental health patients; and + Civil confinement must be reviewed annually by the courts. Maisel said the legislation also toughens penalties for convicted sex offenders by: + Eliminating the option of parole for Article 130 felony sex offenses; + Providing long-term post-release supervision for those convicted of sex offense felonies; + Moving five existing crimes into the "violent crime" category, including second-degree rape and fourth-degree aggravated sexual abuse; and + Creating the crime of "Sexually Motivated Felony" in cases where certain other crimes, like burglary or robbery, are committed for the sexual gratification of the perpetrator. The Brooklyn assemblyman noted that additional measures moving through the Assembly to crack down on sex predators who target children include creating a new felony crime of "luring" a child under the age of 14 for the purpose of committing a violent crime, which the assembly passed in January, and a bill punishing sending descriptions, as well as depictions, of nudity to a child to solicit the child through the Internet. "Our homes and communities will be safer with these measures, especially with this new law to keep the most violent and dangerous sex predators out of society," Maisel said.
|
for larger version       |
||||
