Sex offenders to be delisted

Is 10 years enough time for sex offenders to be listed in NY?



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Sex offenders to be delisted

BY ERROL A. COCKFIELD JR. ALBANY BUREAU CHIEF

January 10, 2006
ALBANY -- By the end of next week, 168 of the state's sex offenders are scheduled to come off a registry that allows the public to check where they live, but lawmakers are at an impasse over how the state should extend the system.

When the State Legislature approved the registry a decade ago, it only allowed names of some sex offenders to be listed for 10 years. On Jan. 21, the first of those names will be deleted and as many as 3,500 could be taken off the rolls by year's end if there is no action.

"This is serious, serious business," said Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick).

Yesterday, the Senate approved legislation -- similar to a proposal backed by Gov. George Pataki -- that would establish a lifetime registry.

But the state Assembly approved extending the current law to 2007 after leaders argued the state should wait for the resolution of competing bills that would establish a sex offender registry on the federal level.

Legislative leaders agreed they would establish conference committees -- a process used in the state Capitol to bridge differences. Pressure mounted because there are only four legislative days before the Jan. 21 deadline.

Despite the agreement on conference committees -- a sign of possible compromise -- Republicans in the Senate expressed anger that Democrats who control the Assembly were willing to wait for Congress to act. That was not guaranteed, they said.

"It's absolutely ridiculous," said state Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), who sponsored Megan's Law, the legislation that created the registry. "We're here to act."

Republicans in the Assembly agreed. James Conte (R-Huntington Station) voted for the Assembly proposal, but said he was disappointed the Assembly did not do more. "This legislation doesn't do it," Conte said. "It punts it for a year."

The developments yesterday added to years of contentiousness between both houses over the answers to strengthening monitoring for sex offenders.

Since 1999, Pataki and his fellow Republicans in the Senate have been pushing for a law to civilly confine sex offenders once they leave prison, but Democrats in the Assembly have called for a more measured approach based on risk.

In September, frustrated that the Assembly has not allowed a floor vote on civil confinement, Pataki ordered state correction officials to begin moving some offenders into mental facilities, arguing they were too dangerous.

In November, a Manhattan judge ruled the move was illegal and ordered the release of 12 men pending hearings. The state is appealing that decision during a hearing today.

Re: Sex offenders to be delisted

Sex offenders should DEFINITELY be registered (whether it be state or federal - whatever) for LIFE.

Re: Sex offenders to be delisted

Posted by BabyAvocado



Sex offenders should DEFINITELY be registered (whether it be state or federal - whatever) for LIFE.

Re: Sex offenders to be delisted

Maybe it should be 10 years per offense?
On one hand, I don't feel like people should be branded for life. We do live in a country where reform and change is possible! On the other hand, offenders make me and I want to say screwthem!

Re: Sex offenders to be delisted

exactly Deb - it's an iffy area.

I'm all for reform, but you can't undo sex offenses, at least in my head.

Re: Sex offenders to be delisted

If it was a 21 year old who got busted once with his teenaged girl friend, then I see no reason to brand him for life.

But if it's a chronic offender, that's different. I just think there you are getting into a sickness that can't be so easily controlled.

Re: Sex offenders to be delisted

10 years is not enough.. New york needs to pass Jessicas Law which would give them I believe 20 or 25 years? Something like that.
The they need to be listed for the rest of their lives.
Most of these offenses are from REPEAT sex offenders. A murderer can im sure become better also but I beleive you still have to pay for whatever crime you commit, regardless of what kind of changed person you can become.
If someone brutally rapes a 6 year old girl and
scars her for life then he should pay for that.
I dont feel 10 years is enough of a punnishment for that.. but thats just MPO.

Re: Sex offenders to be delisted

I would like to see their offense tatooed to their forehead. Then again, I'm also for cruel & unusal punishments too.

Re: Sex offenders to be delisted

Re: Sex offenders to be delisted

Posted by Shorty

Posted by nrthshgrl

I would like to see their offense tatooed to their forehead. Then again, I'm also for cruel & unusal punishments too.

Re: Sex offenders to be delisted

I think they should always be registered!!!

Re: Sex offenders to be delisted