State Assemblyman Steven Labriola was joined on Jan. 21 by local law enforcement officials and advocates of victims of sex crimes in urging the state legislature to pass a bill this session calling for civil confinement of sexually violent predators.

The legislation is sponsored by Assembly Minority Leader Charles Nesbitt and would allow authorities to ask a judge and jury to commit high-risk, sexually violent criminals to a mental hospital after completion of their prison term. The measure has overwhelmingly passed the New York State Senate in 1999, 2000 and 2001, but has yet to be passed by the assembly.

Labriola, a multi-sponsor of the bill in the assembly, was joined by Laura Ahearn, executive director of parents for Megan's Law; Pamela Johnston, executive director of Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk, and Cynthia Scott, executive director of Coalition on Child Abuse and Neglect.

"This civil confinement bill ensures that dangerous sexual predators are in a secure mental health facility receiving the treatment they need until they are no longer a threat to our community," Labriola said. "I call on the Assembly Democrats to stop standing in the way of this common-sense measure that would help keep our families safe."

According to Labriola, the legislation would require the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction to give written notice of the offender's crimes to the New York State Attorney General 120 days prior to their release. Next, a three-member multidisciplinary panel would review all relevant records and make a recommendation to the attorney general and the "prosecutors review committee" which is made up of current and former district attorneys, assistant district attorneys, and deputy or assistant attorneys general.

The "prosecutors review committee" would then make a recommendation to the attorney general who then can file a Sexually Violent Predator Petition and ask for a psychiatric evaluation. The final step is a civil trial by jury or a bench trial if the defendant waives the right to a jury trial. If found in need of extra rehabilitation, the defendant is then committed to a secure mental facility. Each person committed under the legislation would be re-evaluated every year.

Currently the only protection from these sexually violent predators is the State Offender Registration Act, or Megan's Law, which calls for these criminals to identify themselves to the local community. But according to state figures, there are 71 individuals on the Tier Three level, which is the most dangerous, living on Long Island and no mechanism to protect our most vulnerable citizens from them. That is why members of the local advocacy community and the police community support the legislation that Labriola is sponsoring.

Laura Ahearn, C.S.W. executive director of Parents for Megan's Law, said, "Violent sexual predators are being released into our communities only to prey upon our most vulnerable populations. I strongly urge the assembly majority to follow the lead of the senate, along with 16 other states in our nation, and not wait for another child to be murdered before taking action to protect our most vulnerable. When signed into law, civil confinement will prevent brutal sex crimes from being perpetrated against our children and it will most certainly save lives."

Cynthia Scott, executive director of Coalition on Child Abuse and Neglect, said, "Civil confinement can be an important tool in protecting our children from sexual predators. The time is now to allow society to take this extraordinary measure and I urge both houses and both sides of the aisle to join this effort."

Pamela Johnston, executive director of Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk, said, "Civil confinement of sexual predators, with appropriate treatment, can be an important tool for preventing child sex abuse and other sexual assaults."