Assemblyman John Ceretto (R,I-Lewiston) is urging his Assembly colleagues to pass legislation which would give municipalities enhanced powers to prevent sex offenders from moving into a neighborhood.
Assemblyman Ceretto has sponsored Assembly bill 1993, legislation which seeks to prevent high concentrations of sex offenders in local communities by granting municipalities the ability to accept or reject the placement of additional high-risk level 2 and level 3 sex offenders within their limits. The legislation also requires state agencies to provide the necessary support and services needed to reduce the likelihood of recidivism while prohibiting the placement of sex offenders in close proximity to areas where children congregate.
Ceretto noted that families and community leaders in his district have voiced concerns regarding the safety of children due to the large number of sex offenders living in the City of Niagara Falls. In fact, according to recent U.S. Census figures, there are currently 176 registered sex offenders residing in the city.
“Families are worried about the safety of their children, and rightly so. There is a high number of dangerous sex offenders living in the city and Albany’s policy of housing sex offenders in groups has made our streets more dangerous,” said Ceretto. “The Assembly must pass legislation to empower local municipalities to determine how many of these dangerous individuals will be housed and exactly where they will be placed in order to protect public safety.”
Assemblyman Ceretto also noted that an oversaturation of sex offenders in Western New York stems from policies implemented by the state Division of Parole that place several sex offenders in one facility, according to the misguided belief that this is an effective means of monitoring their activities.
“The safety of our families and children is too important to allow Albany’s failed policies to continue to threaten our neighborhoods,” said Ceretto. “As a father I am appalled at the utter disdain the state is showing to Niagara Falls families who are just trying to provide a better life for their children.”
Click here for a list of several other public safety bills that Assemblyman Ceretto is sponsoring to keep our communities safe from dangerous sex offenders.
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