Senator Frank Padavan reported that the New York State Senate passed urgent legislation that will help maintain the security of our neighborhoods by requiring lifetime registration of sex offenders in order to prevent sexual predators from escaping the sex offender registry. On the 10-year anniversary of the passage of Megan's Law, convicted sex offenders will have their names dropped off the registry, which will happen later this month unless the Assembly acts immediately.

"The highly successful Megan's Law has now been in existence in New York State for 10 years," Padavan said. "It was a ground-breaking, historical criminal justice measure for New York. Except, its effectiveness is being challenged by inaction. Convicted sex offenders are about to be dropped from the sexual predator registry - which means our communities will be put at imminent risk, unless the Assembly acts.

"Sexual predators maintain the highest recidivism rate," Padavan explained. "That's why the Senate has taken steps, passing legislation to strengthen Megan's Law, imposing stronger penalties and requiring better and longer notifications for communities. If the Assembly doesn't act on this important legislation, our neighborhoods will once again be at risk from the very predators who were convicted of these heinous crimes before. Those who will be at the most risk - our children, the most vulnerable members of our communities. We cannot allow these dangerous offenders to blend back into society simply because 10 years have passed. The integrity of our neighborhoods, our safety must be the priority. The Assembly must be responsible."

Currently, most sex offenders are only required to register for 10 years. On Jan. 21, the 10th anniversary of the effective date of New York State's sex offender registry, 168 sex offenders will be dropped from the registry because they have met the 10-year mandate to keep police posted of their whereabouts. Hundreds more will drop off the sex offender registry each month thereafter, totaling over 3,500 offenders by the end of 2006.

"Parents have the right to know if a dangerous sex offender is living in their neighborhood," Padavan said. "In fact, the entire community has the right to know. Megan's Law has proven to be an effective measure, helping communities ensure their safety and the safety of their children. If the simple knowledge of a sexual predator's whereabouts can save a family, and more importantly a child, the grim reality that could be lurking in their neighborhoods or near our schools, it is our responsibility to provide it. Especially considering that the already successful law will be deemed less effective in only four legislative days, when the existing law will allow thousands of convicted sex offenders the opportunity to drop off the registry, to infiltrate our neighborhoods unnoticed with people unaware of their heinous, criminal proclivity."

The bill passed by the State Senate would mandate lifetime registration for all levels of sex offenders. However, the bill does include a provision that would allow certain Level 1 offenders to petition for a relief of duty to register after a minimum of 20 years. This legislation is the first step in a series of bills the Senate will act on this month to toughen New York's sex offender laws. Next week, the Senate plans to act on legislation that provides for the civil commitment of sexually violent predators after they've completed their prison sentence in order to protect the public from criminals likely to commit repeated acts of sexual violence.

"Considering both the criminal history of sexual predators and their likeliness of continuing their sexual predatory crimes against children, we need to utilize every tool and technology possible to ensure the safety of our children," Padavan concluded. "We need stronger penalties for sex offenders, better community notification for neighborhoods and GPS tracking to better monitor offenders' movement. The Senate has a very strong record of passing legislation to toughen sex offender laws and protect the public and we will build on that record. Hopefully, the Assembly will place an important value on the safety of our children and of our neighborhoods and pass these common sense measures before time runs out. The safety of our children depends on it."