Res. No. 11
Title
Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature and the Governor to amend the New York State Correction Law to prohibit registered sex offenders from living within fifteen hundred feet of a school.
Body
By Council Members Barron and Brannan
Whereas, According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services' ("DCJS" ) Sex Offenders Registry, there are 7,660 sex offenders living in New York City; and
Whereas, Sex offenders can pose a serious threat to the welfare of children; and
Whereas, Seven-year-old Megan Kanka was a New Jersey resident who was raped and brutally murdered by a known sex offender who moved across the street from the Kanka family's residence; and
Whereas, In 1996 the United States Congress passed a federal law in memoriam to Megan Kanka titled "Megan's Law", which authorizes local law enforcement agencies to notify the public about convicted sex offenders living in their communities; and
Whereas, Megan's Law requires every state to develop a procedure for notifying the public when a sex offender is released into their community; and
Whereas, The New York State Sex Offender Registration Act ("SORA") requires anyone on parole, probation or imprisoned for a sex offense to register with DCJS; and
Whereas, In addition, sex offenders sentenced to probation, local jail, or state prison must register upon their return to the community; and
Whereas, Convicted sex offenders who are assessed as posing a possible risk to reoffend are assigned a classification level; and
Whereas, Sex offenders who have been classified as a Level 2 (moderate) or Level 3 (high) are identified on the New York State Sex Offender Registry; and
Whereas, According to DCJS's Sex Offenders Registry there are more than 4,000 Level 2...
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