We, the undersigned, join Assemblyman Kolb in demanding that the Assembly Majority allow Civil Confinement legislation (A.2693) to come to the Floor of the Assembly for a vote. Civil Confinement would keep the most dangerous sexual predators locked up away from New York’s children.***

We also urge passage of the following proposals to strengthen Megan’s Law:

• Prevent convicted sex offenders from living within 1000 feet of a school or school grounds. (A.1654-A)

• Require the most dangerous sex offenders to wear electronic devices linked to Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites in order to monitor their whereabouts. (A.8158)

• Expand the information available about sex offenders on the Division of Criminal Justice Services’ website to include information on all registered offenders. (A.1701)

• Require law enforcement to release information on Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders - those at the highest risk of committing additional crimes - to vulnerable populations in the community. (A.1654-A)

• Require lifetime registration for all sex offenders on the NYS Sex Offender Registry.

*** Civil confinement would allow the courts to order the worst sex offenders held in a secure facility beyond their prison release date if, upon evaluation, there is significant reason to believe they may strike again. Under current law, sexually violent predators are released into our communities once their sentence is finished despite the fact that there is a strong possibility they may recommit their heinous crimes.

The Assembly Minority has 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 (this year the vote was 58-2). 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.