Senator Stachowski & Senator Klein Urge Governor Paterson to Sign Bill that would Allow Residents to receive Instant E-mail Alerts when a Sex Offender moves into their Zip Code

Senator Stachowski & Senator Klein Urge Governor Paterson to Sign Bill that would Allow Residents to receive Instant E-mail Alerts when a Sex Offender moves into their Zip Code

August 21, 2009

Senator Willaim Stachowski (D58th) and Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) urged Governor Paterson to sign legislation (S1362B) into law that would create a statewide e-mail notification system, by which concerned residents could receive an alert every time a sex offender moves into their zip code.

Thanks to the statewide emergency communication system, NY Alert, which is managed by the Department of Homeland Security, it will be easy for New Yorkers to register for instant e-mail notifications. Currently, New Yorkers desiring up-to-date information on registered sex offenders in their communities must make daily searches of the Sex Offender Registry maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
There are currently 11,428 level 2-3 sex offenders on New York State's Sex Offender Registry, which classifies offenders according to their risk of re-offending: low-risk (Level 1), moderate risk (Level 2) and high-risk (Level 3). Members of the public can access this database at local police stations or via a toll-free telephone number. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders are also listed on an internet subdirectory at the DCJS website.

However, the information changes constantly as new offenders are added or existing registrants update their information. E-mail updates would allow New Yorkers to keep tabs on a specific geographic area, such as where they live or where their children attend school, and would save them the time-consuming chore of making regular visits to the subdirectory website.

“New Yorkers deserve to have the convenience and peace of mind that these email alerts would bring and I urge Governor Paterson to sign this bill so that we can continue to protect our children from the kind of unsavory individuals who are, in many cases, our neighbors,” said Senator Klein.

Klein & Stachowski also released data for all registered sex offenders living in Buffalo, broken down by zip code. Currently there are 430 known sex offenders residing in Buffalo. The top ten zip codes are as follows: 14210 (68 registered sex offenders), 14213 (55 registered sex offenders), 14201 (45 registered sex offenders), 14206 (38 registered sex offenders), 14220 (30 registered sex offenders), 14224 (24 registered sex offenders), 14218 (22 registered sex offenders), 14203 (20 registered sex offenders), 14222 (20 registered sex offenders), 14075 (19 registered sex offenders).

" There is nothing more important than keeping our children safe. This legislation will provide, at no charge to the mothers and fathers who live in our neighborhoods, regular e-mail notification of level 2 and 3 sex offenders who live in their county or zip code. Becoming aware of the dangers and threats to our children is critical to keeping them safe. I am proud to stand here today with Senator Jeff Klein and join with him in urging Governor Paterson to sign this legislation into law," said Senator Stachowski.

In Buffalo, an average of 140 level two and 116 level three sex offenders reside in each zip code. In addition, with more sex offenders subject to the 12-year-old registration requirements being released from prison every day and an increasing number of sex crimes, like sex trafficking, being added to the list of offenses requiring registration, the registry is likely to continue its expansion well into the future.