Padavan Introduces Legislation Prohibiting Sex Offenders From Working With Children

In the wake of a Fox 5 NYC exclusive story revealing that Edwin Rodriguez, a Level 2 sex offender was operating a karate school in Glendale, Queens and having close contact with young children every day, Senator Padavan has introduced state legislation (S.6851) to prohibit sex offenders from working or volunteering with children. 

Senator Padavan said, “It’s outrageous that a man who committed such a horrendous assault on a young girl could have daily and close contact with other children.  We cannot wait until this predator strikes again.  New York State needs to close this loophole immediately to keep sex offenders away from children.”

Nine years ago, Rodriguez was convicted of sexual assault in the 1st degree for sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl.  He served six months in jail and was sentenced to five years probation.  As a Level 2 sex offender, he has to register where he lives but not where he works under current New York State. 

According to Parents for Megan’s Law and The Crime Victims Center, the typical pedophile commits an average of 280 sexual crimes during his lifetime.  Rapists repeat their offenses at rates up to 35 percent; offenders who molest young boys, at rates up to 40 percent, and those rates do not decline appreciably over time.

Under current state law, prospective teachers and school bus drivers must undergo fingerprinting and background checks.  Being on the sex offender registry disqualifies them for those jobs.  However, most other jobs that require substantial contact with children do not require those protections.

Senator Padavan’s legislation would ban sex offenders of any level from working with children in any capacity – whether as a paid employee or as a volunteer.  
 
Similar legislation, banning sex offenders from working with children passed the New York State Senate twice, in 2006 and 2008, but since the Democrats took over the Majority, the bill has not been allowed out of committee to come to the Senate floor for a vote.  The State Assembly has never acted on the legislation.