NEW YORK STATE: Assemblymember Adam Bradley Press Release

Assemblymember Adam Bradley Press Release.

For Immediate Release

Date: January 30, 2006

Bradley introduces Safety from Sex Offenders Act

Assemblyman Adam Bradley (D-White Plains) announced that he has introduced legislation in the Assembly known as the “Safety from Sex Offenders Act” (A.9474).

The legislation will enable judges to make mandatory compliance with treatment a condition of a felony sex offender’s sentence. It also creates an individualized treatment program for imprisoned felony sex offenders. The bill is modeled after the state system of probation and parole by allowing judges to require cooperation and compliance with treatment programs as a condition of the sentence.

Under Bradley’s bill, convicted sex offenders who fail to comply with their treatment programs could be in violation and would face an additional sentence of up to three years imprisonment for each violation.

“It’s clear that dangerous sexual offenders need to be kept off our streets,” said Bradley. “The Safety from Sex Offenders Act includes a tough, comprehensive plan to protect our families from sexual predators.”

Bradley noted that his legislation requires mandatory individualized treatment for incarcerated sex offenders. Currently, the state Department of Correctional Services operates a sex offender treatment program but it is not required by law and it lasts for only six months—one of the shortest prison-based programs in the nation.

“I will work to get this common-sense measure passed in the Assembly,” Bradley said. “It’s imperative that we continue to protect our citizens by requiring mandatory treatment for imprisoned sex felons and longer jail sentences for those who refuse to comply with treatment.”

Bradley’s legislation comes at the heels of the Assembly majority’s comprehensive plan that addresses the threat of sexual predators in our communities. A plan that was the result of a series of public hearings and includes tough penalties, expanded monitoring of sex offenders and better services for victims.

“This legislation will help protect our communities by encouraging treatment and keeping felony sex offenders who refuse treatment in prison,” said Bradley.

Posted By Brian Harrod 

White Plains Newswire Editor