In response to existing loopholes in the criminal justice system that allow many sex offenders to roam freely, the Assembly Republicans have established a 17-member Sex Crime Task Force (SAVE - which stands for Sexual Assault and Violence Education), which I am a member of, to strengthen Megan's Law and create stricter measures to protect New York's children from sexual predators. The task force held its first of five statewide forums on Monday, May 5, in Albany, hearing testimony from law enforcement officials, sex offender treatment experts and other advocates for strong laws protecting children from sexual assault.

Creation of the task force was prompted by reports indicating that sex offenders may be escaping the Megan's Law registry, which was developed to alert enforcement agencies and local communities of the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders. The Sex Offender Registration Act became effective Jan. 21, 1996. The act is modeled after New Jersey's "Megan's Law," named for 7-year-old Megan Kanka, who was raped and murdered in 1994 by a twice-convicted sex offender who lived across the street from her.

Sexual predators are classified into three categories: Level's One, Two or Three. If the risk of repeat offense is low, a Level One designation is given; if the risk of repeat offense is moderate, a Level Two designation is given; and finally, if the risk of repeat offense if high, and there is a threat to the public safety, the sex offender is labeled "a sexually violent predator" and a Level Three designation is given.

Sex offenders must register with the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) annually for a period of 10 years from the initial date of registration. Level Three offenders must register with DCJS annually and verify quarterly for a minimum of 10 years unless relieved of such duty by the court. Registration consists of a written statement signed by the sex offender giving information such as date of conviction, aliases used, date of birth, race, height, weight, eye color and address. They must also include a description of the offense for which the sex offender was convicted and a photograph and set of fingerprints.

According to the Division of Criminal Justice Services which maintains the New York State Sex Offender Registry, there are 15,899 sex offenders registered in New York state. Of that number, 4,448 are registered statewide as Level Three sex offenders. For additional information on the sex offender registry, individuals may access the department's web page at www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us.

The task force has adopted a two-pronged approach, with hearings this year focusing on the sexual abuse of children. During the 2004 legislative session, SAVE plans to study sexual violence against women. It will also discuss a package of Assembly Republican legislation designed to combat sexual assault including bills making it easier to track registered sex offenders and establish new consequences for failing to register under Megan's Law. Other bills in the package would create the crimes of cyberstalking and of luring a child, both in person and over the Internet; and civil confinement of high risk sex offenders after their release from prison if a judge rules the sex offender still poses a threat to the public.

The next forum is scheduled for Thursday, June 5 on Long Island.