S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4071
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 1, 2011
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RAIA, HAWLEY, KOLB -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of
A. BURLING, CONTE, CROUCH, FITZPATRICK, JEFFRIES, McKEVITT, MOLINARO,
OAKS, SPANO, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law and the criminal procedure law, in
relation to mandatory imprisonment and plea restrictions for offenses
victimizing the elderly and physically disabled
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. It is hereby found and declared that elderly and physically
disabled people continue to be singled out as victims of crime. It is
also found that the physical harm and emotional trauma suffered by
elderly and physically disabled crime victims has a devastating effect
on the lives of those victims.
The elderly or physically disabled victim has a decreased physical
capability to resist an attacker and thus becomes an inviting target of
crime. Moreover, the aftereffects of crime on the elderly and the phys-
ically handicapped affect them more deeply than any statistics would
indicate. The emotional trauma and possible serious physical damage
resulting from a face to face crime may cause a permanent downgrading in
the elderly or physically disabled victim's lifestyle. Such victims
often impose "house-arrest" on themselves, afraid to shop, to visit
friends, to go to the doctor, to live, unless behind locked doors. Even
those elderly or physically disabled who are not direct victims of crime
suffer indirectly, because they, having learned of the terrible tragedy
suffered by other elderly and physically disabled and fearful for their
own individual safety, barricade themselves within their homes. The
older or physically disabled crime victim is thus twice victimized--by
the crime and by its aftermath.
Criminologists, sociologists, psychologists, and the police all recog-
nize and acknowledge these facts, but the law does not. It has been
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06749-01-1
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ineffective in deterring crimes against the elderly and the physically
disabled, particularly those involving violence or the threat of
violence. Similarly, special projects on crime prevention and improved
techniques of communications for the elderly to the police do not halt
or reduce such crime. For these reasons, offenses committed against the
elderly or the physically disabled must be treated as unique, and legis-
lation must be enacted to provide a meaningful deterrent for those
offenders who now victimize the elderly and the physically disabled.
S 2. Subdivision 18 of section 10.00 of the penal law, as amended by
chapter 7 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
18. "Juvenile offender" means (1) a person thirteen years old who is
criminally responsible for acts constituting murder in the second degree
as defined in subdivisions one and two of section 125.25 of this chapter
or such conduct as a sexually motivated felony, where authorized pursu-
ant to section 130.91 of [the penal law] THIS CHAPTER; and
(2) a person fourteen or fifteen years old who is criminally responsi-
ble for acts constituting the crimes defined in subdivisions one and two
of section 125.25 (murder in the second degree) and in subdivision three
of such section provided that the underlying crime for the murder charge
is one for which such person is criminally responsible; section 135.25
(kidnapping in the first degree); 150.20 (arson in the first degree);
subdivisions one and two of section 120.10 (assault in the first
degree); 125.20 (manslaughter in the first degree); subdivisions one and
two of section 130.35 (rape in the first degree); subdivisions one and
two of section 130.50 (criminal sexual act in the first degree); 130.70
(aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree); 140.30 (burglary in the
first degree); subdivision one of section 140.25 (burglary in the second
degree); 150.15 (arson in the second degree); 160.15 (robbery in the
first degree); subdivision two of section 160.10 (robbery in the second
degree) of this chapter; or section 265.03 of this chapter, where such
machine gun or such firearm is possessed on school grounds, as that
phrase is defined in subdivision fourteen of section 220.00 of this
chapter; or defined in this chapter as an attempt to commit murder in
the second degree or kidnapping in the first degree; SECTION 280.00
(VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE THIRD
DEGREE); SECTION 280.05 (VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISA-
BLED IN THE SECOND DEGREE); OR SECTION 280.10 (VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY
OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE FIRST DEGREE), or such conduct as a
sexually motivated felony, where authorized pursuant to section 130.91
of [the penal law] THIS CHAPTER.
S 3. Section 10.00 of the penal law is amended by adding three new
subdivisions 21, 22 and 23 to read as follows:
21. "ELDERLY PERSON" MEANS A HUMAN BEING SIXTY-TWO YEARS OLD OR MORE.
22. "VICTIM", AS THAT TERM IS USED IN ARTICLE TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY OF
THIS CHAPTER, MEANS, IN A CASE OF:
(A) ASSAULT, THE PERSON INJURED OR INTENDED TO BE INJURED;
(B) MANSLAUGHTER OR MURDER, THE PERSON KILLED OR INTENDED TO BE
KILLED OR INJURED;
(C) RAPE OR CRIMINAL SEXUAL ACT, THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE DEFENDANT
HAS THE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE OR DEVIATE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE;
(D) KIDNAPPING, THE PERSON ABDUCTED;
(E) BURGLARY OR ROBBERY, THE PERSON INJURED, OR AGAINST WHOM A
DANGEROUS INSTRUMENT IS OR IS THREATENED TO BE USED, OR TO WHOM THE
WEAPON IS DISPLAYED;
(F) ARSON, THE PERSON PRESENT IN THE BUILDING AT THE TIME; OR
(G) LARCENY, THE PERSON IN WHOM FEAR IS INSTILLED.
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23. "PHYSICALLY DISABLED PERSON" MEANS A HUMAN BEING:
(A) HAVING AN IMPAIRMENT REQUIRING THE USE OF LEG BRACES, CRUTCHES OR
ARTIFICIAL SUPPORT, OR
(B) HAVING AN IMPAIRMENT REQUIRING CONFINEMENT TO A WHEELCHAIR, OR
(C) HAVING AN IMPAIRMENT CAUSED BY AMPUTATION OF A LIMB, OR
(D) HAVING TOTAL OR PARTIAL IMPAIRMENT OF SIGHT NECESSITATING THE USE
OF A GUIDE DOG OR OTHER GUIDING DEVICE.
S 4. The penal law is amended by adding a new article 280 to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 280
OFFENSES AGAINST THE ELDERLY OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED
SECTION 280.00 VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE
THIRD DEGREE.
280.05 VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE
SECOND DEGREE.
280.10 VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE
FIRST DEGREE.
S 280.00 VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE THIRD
DEGREE.
A PERSON IS GUILTY OF VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISA-
BLED IN THE THIRD DEGREE WHEN HE OR SHE:
1. COMMITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING FELONIES:
ATTEMPT TO COMMIT VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED
IN THE SECOND DEGREE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 280.05, OR ASSAULT IN THE
SECOND DEGREE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 120.05; AND
2. THE VICTIM OF SUCH CRIME IS AN ELDERLY PERSON OR A PHYSICALLY DISA-
BLED PERSON.
VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE THIRD DEGREE
IS A CLASS D FELONY.
S 280.05 VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE
SECOND DEGREE.
A PERSON IS GUILTY OF VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISA-
BLED IN THE SECOND DEGREE WHEN HE OR SHE:
1. COMMITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING FELONIES:
ATTEMPT TO COMMIT VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED
IN THE FIRST DEGREE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 280.10, ASSAULT IN THE FIRST
DEGREE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 120.10, BURGLARY IN THE SECOND DEGREE AS
DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (B), (C), OR (D) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION
140.25, GRAND LARCENY IN THE SECOND DEGREE AS DEFINED IN CLAUSE (A) OF
SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION 155.40, OR ROBBERY IN THE SECOND DEGREE AS
DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION 160.10; AND
2. THE VICTIM OF SUCH CRIME IS AN ELDERLY PERSON OR A PHYSICALLY DISA-
BLED PERSON.
VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE SECOND
DEGREE IS A CLASS C FELONY.
S 280.10 VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE FIRST
DEGREE.
A PERSON IS GUILTY OF VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISA-
BLED IN THE FIRST DEGREE WHEN HE OR SHE:
1. COMMITS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING FELONIES:
ATTEMPT TO COMMIT A CLASS A-I FELONY OTHER THAN AN OFFENSE DEFINED IN
ARTICLE TWO HUNDRED TWENTY, MANSLAUGHTER IN THE FIRST DEGREE AS DEFINED
IN SECTION 125.20, RAPE IN THE FIRST DEGREE AS DEFINED IN SECTION
130.35, CRIMINAL SEXUAL ACT IN THE FIRST DEGREE AS DEFINED IN SECTION
130.50, KIDNAPPING IN THE SECOND DEGREE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 135.20,
BURGLARY IN THE FIRST DEGREE AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION TWO, THREE OR
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FOUR OF SECTION 140.30, OR ROBBERY IN THE FIRST DEGREE AS DEFINED IN
SUBDIVISION ONE, THREE OR FOUR OF SECTION 160.15; AND
2. THE VICTIM OF SUCH CRIME IS AN ELDERLY PERSON OR A PHYSICALLY DISA-
BLED PERSON.
VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE FIRST DEGREE
IS A CLASS B FELONY.
S 5. Section 60.05 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 410 of the
laws of 1979, the section heading and subdivisions 2, 3 and 4 as amended
by chapter 738 of the laws of 2004, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter
7 of the laws of 2007 and subdivision 5 as amended by chapter 405 of
2010, is amended to read as follows:
S 60.05 Authorized dispositions; other class A, B, certain C and D felo-
nies and multiple felony offenders.
1. Applicability. Except as provided in section 60.04 of this article
governing the authorized dispositions applicable to felony offenses
defined in article two hundred twenty or two hundred twenty-one of this
chapter or in section 60.13 of this article governing the authorized
dispositions applicable to felony sex offenses defined in paragraph (a)
of subdivision one of section 70.80 of this title, this section shall
govern the dispositions authorized when a person is to be sentenced upon
a conviction of a class A felony, a class B felony or a class C, class D
or class E felony specified herein, or when a person is to be sentenced
upon a conviction of a felony as a multiple felony offender.
2. Class A felony. Except as provided in SUBDIVISION SEVEN OF THIS
SECTION AND subdivisions three and four of section 70.06 of this chap-
ter, every person convicted of a class A felony must be sentenced to
imprisonment in accordance with section 70.00 of this title, unless such
person is convicted of murder in the first degree and is sentenced in
accordance with section 60.06 of this article.
3. Class B felony. Except as provided in [subdivision] SUBDIVISIONS
six AND SEVEN of this section, every person convicted of a class B
violent felony offense as defined in subdivision one of section 70.02 of
this title, must be sentenced to imprisonment in accordance with such
section 70.02; and, except as provided in subdivision six of this
section, every person convicted of any other class B felony must be
sentenced to imprisonment in accordance with section 70.00 of this
title.
4. Certain class C felonies. Except as provided in [subdivision]
SUBDIVISIONS six AND SEVEN, every person convicted of a class C violent
felony offense as defined in subdivision one of section 70.02 of this
title, must be sentenced to imprisonment in accordance with section
70.02 of this title; and, except as provided in subdivision six of this
section, every person convicted of the class C felonies of: attempt to
commit any of the class B felonies of bribery in the first degree as
defined in section 200.04, bribe receiving in the first degree as
defined in section 200.12, conspiracy in the second degree as defined in
section 105.15 and criminal mischief in the first degree as defined in
section 145.12; criminal usury in the first degree as defined in section
190.42, rewarding official misconduct in the first degree as defined in
section 200.22, receiving reward for official misconduct in the first
degree as defined in section 200.27, attempt to promote prostitution in
the first degree as defined in section 230.32, promoting prostitution in
the second degree as defined in section 230.30, arson in the third
degree as defined in section 150.10 of this chapter, must be sentenced
to imprisonment in accordance with section 70.00 of this title.
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5. Certain class D felonies. Except as provided in subdivision six of
this section, every person convicted of the class D felonies of assault
in the second degree as defined in section 120.05, strangulation in the
second degree as defined in section 121.12 or attempt to commit a class
C felony as defined in section 230.30 of this chapter, must be sentenced
in accordance with section 70.00 or 85.00 of this title.
6. Multiple felony offender. When the court imposes sentence upon a
second violent felony offender, as defined in section 70.04, or a second
felony offender, as defined in section 70.06, the court must impose a
sentence of imprisonment in accordance with section 70.04 or 70.06, as
the case may be, unless it imposes a sentence of imprisonment in accord-
ance with section 70.08 or 70.10.
7. ARTICLE TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY OFFENSES. WHEN THE COURT IMPOSES
SENTENCE UPON A PERSON CONVICTED OF AN OFFENSE ENUMERATED IN ARTICLE TWO
HUNDRED EIGHTY, IT MUST IMPOSE A SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT IN ACCORDANCE
WITH SECTION 70.09, UNLESS IT IMPOSES A SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 70.06 OR 70.10.
8. Fines. Where the court imposes a sentence of imprisonment in
accordance with this section, the court also may impose a fine author-
ized by article eighty and in such case the sentence shall be both
imprisonment and a fine.
S 6. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 70.09 to read as
follows:
S 70.09 SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES AGAINST THE ELDER-
LY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED.
1. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR EVERY PERSON, OTHER THAN A
PERSON SENTENCED AS A SECOND OR PERSISTENT FELONY OFFENDER, WHO IS
CONVICTED OF AN OFFENSE AGAINST THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED
DEFINED IN ARTICLE TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY OF THIS CHAPTER, MUST BE SENTENCED
TO AN INDETERMINATE SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISIONS TWO AND THREE OF THIS SECTION.
2. THE MAXIMUM TERM OF SUCH INDETERMINATE SENTENCE MUST BE FIXED AS
FOLLOWS:
(A) FOR THE CLASS B FELONY OF VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYS-
ICALLY DISABLED IN THE FIRST DEGREE, THE TERM MUST BE AT LEAST NINE
YEARS AND MUST NOT EXCEED TWENTY-FIVE YEARS;
(B) FOR THE CLASS C FELONY OF VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYS-
ICALLY DISABLED IN THE SECOND DEGREE, THE TERM MUST BE AT LEAST SIX
YEARS AND MUST NOT EXCEED FIFTEEN YEARS;
(C) FOR THE CLASS D FELONY OF VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYS-
ICALLY DISABLED IN THE THIRD DEGREE, THE TERM MUST BE AT LEAST FOUR
YEARS AND MUST NOT EXCEED SEVEN YEARS.
3. THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF IMPRISONMENT FOR SUCH INDETERMINATE SENTENCE
MUST BE FIXED BY THE COURT AND MUST BE SPECIFIED IN THE SENTENCE AS
FOLLOWS:
(A) FOR THE CLASS B FELONY OF VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYS-
ICALLY DISABLED IN THE FIRST DEGREE, THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF IMPRISONMENT
SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN THREE YEARS NOR MORE THAN ONE-THIRD THE MAXIMUM
TERM IMPOSED BY THE COURT;
(B) FOR THE CLASS C FELONY OF VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYS-
ICALLY DISABLED IN THE SECOND DEGREE, THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF IMPRISONMENT
SHALL BE NOT LESS THAN TWO YEARS NOR MORE THAN ONE-THIRD THE MAXIMUM
TERM IMPOSED BY THE COURT;
(C) FOR THE CLASS D FELONY OF VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYS-
ICALLY DISABLED IN THE THIRD DEGREE, THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF IMPRISONMENT
SHALL BE ONE-THIRD THE MAXIMUM TERM IMPOSED BY THE COURT.
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4. ALTERNATIVE DEFINITE SENTENCE FOR CLASS D FELONY OFFENSE AGAINST
THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED. WHEN A PERSON, OTHER THAN A
MULTIPLE FELONY OFFENDER, IS SENTENCED FOR THE CLASS D FELONY OF VICTIM-
IZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE THIRD DEGREE, AND
THE COURT, HAVING REGARD TO THE NATURE AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CRIME
AND TO THE HISTORY AND CHARACTER OF THE DEFENDANT, IS OF THE OPINION
THAT IT WOULD BE UNDULY HARSH TO IMPOSE AN INDETERMINATE SENTENCE, THE
COURT MAY IMPOSE A DEFINITE SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT AND FIX A TERM OF
ONE YEAR.
S 7. Subdivision 4 of section 180.75 of the criminal procedure law, as
amended by chapter 264 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as
follows:
4. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions two and three of
this section, a local criminal court shall, at the request of the
district attorney, order removal of an action against a juvenile offen-
der to the family court pursuant to the provisions of article seven
hundred twenty-five of this chapter if, upon consideration of the crite-
ria specified in subdivision two of section 210.43 of this chapter, it
is determined that to do so would be in the interests of justice.
Where, however, the felony complaint charges the juvenile offender with
AN OFFENSE AGAINST THE ELDERLY OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED, OR murder in the
second degree as defined in section 125.25 of the penal law, rape in the
first degree as defined in subdivision one of section 130.35 of the
penal law, criminal sexual act in the first degree as defined in subdi-
vision one of section 130.50 of the penal law, or an armed felony as
defined in paragraph (a) of subdivision forty-one of section 1.20 of
this chapter, a determination that such action be removed to the family
court shall, in addition, be based upon a finding of one or more of the
following factors: (i) mitigating circumstances that bear directly upon
the manner in which the crime was committed; or (ii) where the defendant
was not the sole participant in the crime, the defendant's participation
was relatively minor although not so minor as to constitute a defense to
the prosecution; or (iii) possible deficiencies in proof of the crime.
S 8. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 5 of section 220.10 of the criminal
procedure law, as amended by chapter 410 of the laws of 1979, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) Where the indictment charges a felony, other than a class A felo-
ny or class B felony defined in article two hundred twenty of the penal
law or class B or class C violent felony offense as defined in subdivi-
sion one of section 70.02 of the penal law, OR THE CLASS C FELONY OF
VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE SECOND DEGREE
AS DEFINED IN SECTION 280.05 OF THE PENAL LAW, and it appears that the
defendant has previously been subjected to a predicate felony conviction
as defined in [penal law] section 70.06 OF THE PENAL LAW then any plea
of guilty entered pursuant to subdivision three or four must be or must
include at least a plea of guilty of a felony.
S 9. Subparagraph (vi) of paragraph (b) of subdivision 3 of section
220.30 of the criminal procedure law, as amended by chapter 481 of the
laws of 1978 and as renumbered by chapter 233 of the laws of 1980, is
amended to read as follows:
(vi) A plea of guilty, whether to the entire indictment or to part of
the indictment for any crime other than a felony, may not be accepted on
the condition that it constitutes a complete disposition of one or more
other indictments against the defendant wherein is charged a class B
felony other than a class B violent felony offense as defined in subdi-
vision one of section 70.02 of the penal law, OR THE CLASS C FELONY OF
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VICTIMIZING THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE SECOND DEGREE
AS DEFINED IN SECTION 280.05 OF THE PENAL LAW.
S 10. Subdivision 2 of section 720.10 of the criminal procedure law,
as amended by chapter 416 of the laws of 1986, paragraph (a) as amended
by chapter 316 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
2. "Eligible youth" means a youth who is eligible to be found a
youthful offender. Every youth is so eligible unless:
(a) the conviction to be replaced by a youthful offender finding is
for (i) a class A-I or class A-II felony, or (ii) an armed felony as
defined in subdivision forty-one of section 1.20, except as provided in
subdivision three, or (iii) rape in the first degree, criminal sexual
act in the first degree, or aggravated sexual abuse, except as provided
in subdivision three, or
(b) such youth has previously been convicted and sentenced for a felo-
ny, or
(c) such youth has previously been adjudicated a youthful offender
following conviction of a felony or has been adjudicated on or after
September first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight a juvenile delinquent
who committed a designated felony act as defined in the family court
act, OR
(D) SUCH YOUTH HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF THE CLASS B FELONY OF VICTIMIZING
THE ELDERLY OR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED IN THE FIRST DEGREE AS DEFINED IN
SECTION 280.10 OF THE PENAL LAW.
S 11. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law.