Senator Nozzolio Announces “Brittany’s Law” Included in Senate One-House Budget

New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio announced the State Senate has taken a tremendous step forward in adopting a tougher stance against violent crime by including the Domestic Violence Prevention Act – “Brittany’s Law” in the New York State Senate one house budget proposal for the 2015-16 fiscal year.  
 
“The Domestic Violence Prevention Act – ‘Brittany’s Law', represents a major step forward for New York in the fight against violent crime and domestic abuse crimes. By putting new measures in place to track violent offenders and keep our communities informed of their whereabouts, Brittany’s Law will save lives. As Chairman of the Senate Codes Committee and Co-Chairman of the Joint Budget Conference Committee for Public Protection, I am committed to enacting tougher sentencing laws for violent criminals, reinforcing laws to protect women and children from domestic violence, and strengthening the rights of crime victims to prevent future tragedies from occurring,” said Senator Mike Nozzolio.

The Domestic Violence Prevention Act – “Brittany’s Law” would require all individuals convicted of a violent felony to register with the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) upon release from prison. The registry would be accessible to the public, similar to the registry of sex offenders that the State currently has in place. The legislation also establishes annual registration requirements for offenders to allow local law enforcement agencies and the State to monitor the whereabouts of these individuals.

In November of 2009, 12-year-old Brittany Passalacqua was brutally murdered along with her mother, Helen Buchel, at their home in Geneva. The perpetrator was John Edward Brown, a violent convicted felon who had been released from prison early after serving only 2 ½ years for assaulting his infant daughter in 2003. Brown had been put on parole just months before he committed the murders.

Since these tragic murders occurred, Senator Nozzolio has worked closely with Brittany’s grandmother, Dale Driscoll, as well as law enforcement officials and victims’ rights advocates to develop legislation to allow the public to have greater access to information about violent offenders and the crimes they have committed.  Senator Nozzolio worked to establish tougher penalties for violent offenders so they can no longer threaten the lives and safety of innocent people in our communities.

The New York State Senate has adopted Brittany’s Law every year since 2011, but the New York City-controlled leadership of the State Assembly has repeatedly refused to bring this important legislation to the floor for a vote. 

“All we need now for the violent offender registry to become a reality is for the State Assembly to adopt Brittany’s Law as part of the 2015-16 New York State budget. New York State currently requires all convicted sex offenders to register with the State and it keeps track of those individuals. It makes no sense that we do not do the same for those who commit violent felony crimes against our citizens. We cannot continue to put innocent New Yorkers at risk," concluded Senator Nozzolio.
 
Senator Nozzolio has been an outspoken advocate for criminal justice reform, crime victims' rights and tougher sentencing guidelines for violent criminals and sexual predators. He has fought to end work release and conjugal visit programs for dangerous felons, and helped enact critical legislation including Megan's Law, the Sex Offender Reform Act, the Domestic Violence Prevention and Family Protection Act and Jenna's Law.