Senate Passes Lanza's Bill to Increase Public Awareness of Sex Offenders’ Workplaces

The New York State Senate today passed a bill to provide the public with the ability to easily get important information about sex offenders in their communities. The bill (S3811), sponsored by Senator Andrew Lanza (R-C-I, Staten Island) would allow the state’s Sex Offender Registry information to be searchable by the zip code of a registrant’s employment.

    Senator Lanza said, “Expanding New York’s Sex Offender Registry to include the zip code of a registrant’s employment will help ensure that we are providing the most accurate and up-to-date information on offenders living in the state. This important expansion is designed to make the Registry an even better resource for law enforcement agencies to monitor their communities. These are necessary additions that will help keep our neighborhoods safe and better protect our children.”

    In New York, there is currently no way for parents, guardians, and those who care for children to find out if a convicted registered sex offender may be working in their neighborhood. While the state’s Sex Offender Registry does allow the public to search by zip code, results only include offenders who are living – not working – in that area. This legislation corrects a loophole in the current law to protect children and adult victims by improving the public’s ability to easily get important information about whether a convicted registered sex offender is working directly in their communities.

    The bill has been sent to the Assembly.

###