Tougher Sentencing Laws for Violent Criminals

Dear Neighbor,

In November of 2009, 12-year-old Brittany Passalacqua was brutally murdered along with her mother, Helen Buchel, in their home.

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.

We have a responsibility to keep our communities safe and these tragic deaths underscore the need for tougher penalties for violent offenders.

I recently joined my colleagues in the State Senate in supporting legislation that takes a tremendous step forward in adopting a tougher stance against violent crime.

Our “Brittany’s Law – Domestic Violence Prevention Act” 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.

In addition, the legislation would also establish an annual registration requirement for offenders to allow local law enforcement agencies and the State to monitor the whereabouts of these individuals.

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 tragedy from occurring.

“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 keeping our communities informed of their whereabouts, “Brittany’s Law” will save lives.


Sincerely,

Simcha Felder
Senator, 17^th S.D.