Assemblyman Joseph Saladino (R.-Massapequa) recently announced the passage of legislation that will confine the most dangerous sex offenders after their prison sentences are completed. The Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act was recently passed into law in Albany.

The civil commitment law was the prime target for the assemblyman. The bill passed in response to his press conferences, pressure from concerned citizens and Long Island senators, who forged a compromise with New York City Assembly leaders.

The specifics of the legislation will:

• Allow the state to keep dangerous sex offenders off the streets after they are released from prison in secure facilities where they can receive intensive mental health treatment. This would take effect after a second jury trial to determine if confinement is appropriate.

• Establish a state Office of Sex Offender Management that will coordinate all areas related to sex offenders and victims, including post release supervision, treatment, monitoring, risk assessment, civil commitment (confinement), community awareness and victim assistance;

• Give judges the option of imposing intensive supervision with mandatory GPS ankle-lock monitoring as an alternative to confining offenders in a secure mental facility;

• Create screening panels composed of mental health officials which will determine whether a soon-to-be released prisoner is a candidate for civil confinement;

• Include stiffer penalties for sex offenders and broaden the category of sexual offense to include crimes motivated by sexual violence. For example, a person who is caught breaking into a house to rape a woman would be charged with a sexually motivated offense even if the offender does not succeed in harming the woman; and

• Mandate longer fixed sentences for sex offenders.

"Convicted sex offenders and child predators have the highest recidivism rate of any and all felony criminals. They are a parent's worst nightmare and I feel very relieved to have been successful in accomplishing a large step in protecting the public and lessening their fears," said Assemblyman Saladino.

The Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act takes effect 30 days after the governor signs it into law. Assemblyman Saladino is available for comments or question by calling his district office at 844-0635.