Assembly Minority members and Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro today called for immediate action by the Assembly Majority on legislation that would keep dangerous sex offenders locked up if they pose a threat to society. Civil confinement would allow the courts to order the worst sex offenders held in a secure facility (staffed by mental health professionals) beyond their prison release date if, upon evaluation, there is significant reason to believe they may strike again.

Assembly Minority Leader Charles H. Nesbitt (R,C,I-Albion) said, "If after a judicial hearing a sexual predator is determined to be at a high risk of attacking again, a judge should be able to protect the citizens of New York State by ruling to keep that dangerous offender civilly confined until he or she no longer poses a threat. We must make enactment of civil confinement a priority this year in order to safeguard the innocent victims of these horrific crimes."

District Attorney Pirro said, " For far too long, convicted sexual predators have been released after serving time in prison only to prey on innocent children again. It is our children who suffer the devastating effects of our system's inequities. I urge legislators to protect our children from these dangerous violent predators by passing this important legislation."

In calling for civil confinement, D.A. Pirro cited the case of Westchester County pedophile Eddie W. Cordero, Sr., who was indicted last week by a grand jury for the brutal abduction and rape of a 12-year-old Yonkers girl. Cordero had previously served time in prison for sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl in Peekskill. Similar cases, in which convicted sex offenders attacked again after being released from prison, have occurred throughout New York State.

Assembly Minority Leader Pro Tem Willis H. Stephens, Jr. (R,C,I-Brewster), who represents part of Westchester County, said, " Many of these violent predators cannot be rehabilitated and are likely to strike again. We need to give judges the latitude they need to protect New Yorkers. Assembly Majority members need to quit stalling and allow a vote on this legislation."

Assemblyman Matthew Mirones (R,C,I-Staten Island, Bay Ridge), ranking Minority member of the Assembly Mental Health Committee said, " Too often the women and children of this state have become targets for sexual predators. The Assembly Majority remains the only obstacle to this vital safety measure becoming law in New York. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to support this measure. It is imperative that we pass civil confinement legislation this year."

Assembly Minority members have been urging a civil confinement law since 1993. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of civil confinement, and a similar bill has repeatedly passed the state Senate with bipartisan support (last year the vote was 59 to 2). Governor Pataki has also said he will sign the legislation as soon as it reaches his desk. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia currently have civil confinement laws on the books.

The Assembly Minority civil confinement proposal (A. 2693) is included in Excelsior 2005, the Conference's list of legislative priorities for this year's session.

In 2003 and 2004 the Assembly Minority Task Force on Sex Crimes Against Children and Women held a series of hearings across the state to gather information about new ways to combat sexual violence. Support for civil confinement legislation was voiced at each one of the forums by district attorneys, victims' advocates and law enforcement officials.