As we near the end of another year, the state Legislature will head back to Albany on December 13th to convene a special session, to address the most important issue facing the safety of families throughout New York, enactment of civil confinement legislation.
Civil confinement would allow the courts to order the worst of convicted sex offenders, classified as Level 3 predators, held in secure mental-health facilities beyond their prison release dates. Sixteen states including the District of Columbia have civil confinement statutes. Furthermore, the United States Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the measure.
For years my Assembly Minority colleagues and I have led the fight to pass this vital legislation in the State Assembly. Sadly, Speaker Silver and the Assembly Majority have blocked our efforts, and have only until recently presented a watered-down version of the bill. Meanwhile, the state Senate has passed civil confinement for years with bi-partisan support.
Our efforts have not gone in vain. Families and neighborhood safety groups from throughout New York have joined in our efforts by supporting our SAVE-NY report that includes civil confinement along with other measures aimed at protecting our women and children. Their support has helped pass legislation that would expand the DNA database to include all felonies and misdemeanors and eliminate the statute of limitations. However, our fight will not be complete until civil confinement becomes law in New York state.
Now we stand just a few days away from an historic opportunity to end the Speaker’s obstruction and enact a real civil confinement law. It is my hope that we end this year by enacting a real civil confinement law that will help protect New York’s families.