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Six members of the New York State Assembly, led by Assemblywomen Dierdre Scozzafava from Gouverneur (122nd District), held a hearing in Syracuse July 2, 2003 calling for tougher laws to stop sex offenders. The other Assembly members present included Will Barclay (124th District), Jeff Brown (121st District), Catharine Young (149th District), Joseph Errigo (130th District), and Gary Finch (123rd District). |
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Senator Hoffmann explained how she created a treatment program for sex offenders in the mid 1990s. Nothing was being done with imprisoned sex offenders to keep them from repeating the crime when they were released. A pilot program of intensive counseling while in prison and monitoring by specially trained probation officers upon release was offered at the Oneida Correctional facility. The results were very positive and the program was expanded to other prisons. It has resulted in substantially reduced recidivism rates. Senator Hoffmann is also a sponsor of legislation allowing civil commitment of some sex offenders. |
"Simply warehousing sex offenders in prison then turning them loose upon society when their time is served means we're just going to have more victims. Reducing the number of victims should be our legislative goal." |
"Civil commitment, with treatment, for the worst of these predators should be an option but as you know, the majority members of the Assembly have rejected this proposal. Other states have been able to enact civil commitment, I hope as a result of these hearings you are able to bring enough pressure to bear on Speaker (Sheldon) Silver to move on the proposals from your Task Force." |
Janice Grieshaber, Executive Director of the Jenna Foundation, told the Task Force legislation is needed to ensure criminal accusations made in Family Court are prosecuted in criminal courts. Nothing compels a Family Court to report a possible sex crime to investigators. The Jenna Foundation is named after the Grieshaber's daughter, killed by a violent felon who was out of prison through an early release program. The Grieshaber's successfully lobbied the Legislature to end such programs. |