Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis speaks at today’s press conference advocating stronger protections against sex offenders in New York State.
LONG ISLAND – Two members of the New York State Assembly who represent areas of Long Island are calling for legislation that would extend the amount of time a Level 1 sex offender remains on the state sex offender registry.
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R,C,I-Brooklyn, Staten Island) and Assemblyman Dean Murray (R,C,I- East Patchogue) on Tuesday provided details of legislation they’ve introduced in the Minority Conference that would extend the time Level 1 sex offenders are required to remain on the sex offender registry from 20 to 30 years.
Level 1 offenders are considered the lowest risk of repeating an offense on the state registry. Complete details of what offenses would result in the classification of a Level 1 status can be found on the state’s Criminal Justice website.
According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DSJS), there are currently 14,680 Level 1 sex offenders in the state, with an estimated 1300 already removed from the registry this year. Malliotakis says that some of those who have appeared on the registry as Level 1 offenders have committed heinous crimes and pled down to Level 1 with a plea deal. Some of those crimes included forced rape as well as sexual assault against a child.
“It is unsettling to know that since the beginning of the year, over 1,300 Level 1 sex offenders have fallen off the registry because state law only requires that they remain on the registry for 20 years. Those who have knowingly caused heinous sexual abuse of others, including infants, should not be allowed to disappear from the registry and blend in with society,” said Malliotakis.
The proposed bill announced Tuesday would allow for certain Level 1 sex offenders to apply for removal from the sex offender registry, if they can prove by clear and convincing evidence that they are no longer a threat to public safety.
It’s not known if the Democratic-controlled Assembly plans to take up the bill for an official vote on the Assembly floor. It would also need to be approved by the state Senate and signed by the governor in order to become a law.
Leave a Reply