Gary D. Finch

CIVIL CONFINEMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS,

JESSICA’S LAW ARE MY TOP PRIORITIES

     This past week was a busy one for the State Legislature that saw several developments on important public safety measures to protect women and children from dangerous sexual predators.

     I joined Governor Pataki in calling for passage of new legislation to toughen penalties on individuals who commit sexual crimes against children.  “Jessica’s Law” is named for Jessica Lunsford, a nine-year-old-girl who was abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered by a registered sex offender who lived in her Florida neighborhood.

     Jessica’s Law mandates prison sentences of 25 years to life for perpetrators of violent sexual felonies against children and strengthens other sexual assault laws. My Assembly Republican colleagues and I want to pass this as soon as possible.  We simply cannot take chances when it comes to the safety of our families.

     As we were announcing this new measure, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and his Democrat colleagues finally offered legislation that would allow for civil confinement of dangerous sex offenders.  Unfortunately, the bill being pushed through the Assembly by the Democrats does not go far enough in protecting women and children from dangerous sex offenders.  As a matter of fact, this legislation is so flawed that a sexual predator will never be civilly confined.

     Under the Democrats’ bill, more than 5,000 sex offenders currently incarcerated would be ineligible for civil confinement.  This is unacceptable.  We need strong legislation that will keep violent Level 3 sex offenders off our streets and away from law-abiding residents.

     Legislation that I am sponsoring with my Assembly Republicans colleagues is much stronger because it covers sex offenders now in prison and those who receive plea deals.  The Democrats’ bill exempts offenders who plea bargain their guilty pleas and sentences.  The Republican-sponsored bill also makes more sexually violent predators eligible for confinement than the Democrats’ measure, which requires a much stricter standard before offenders would be eligible.

     I am calling for a Joint Conference Committee to meet and settle the differences between the bills offered by the Assembly and state Senate, similar to one that recently reached an agreement on a stronger Megan’s Law.  

     I take this issue very seriously.  This is not a political issue – it’s a matter of recognizing that we need to pass the best, most responsible legislation to make our communities safer.  As a husband, father and as your Assemblyman, I will do everything in my power to protect residents from being victimized by violent sex offenders. 

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