Senate Passes Measure to Prevent Child Abuse

The New York State Senate today passed a crucial measure to help protect the most vulnerable children from abuse and exploitation. The bill (S3212A), sponsored by Senator Catharine Young (R-C-I, Olean), creates tough new penalties for predators who use technology to promote their sexual crimes against children.

Senator Young said, “Without question, modern technology has enhanced our lives in countless ways. Unfortunately, sexual predators are also using technology to exploit children and violate them in new ways. My community has seen firsthand the tragic consequences that can be the outcome when sexual predators use the Internet to promote their illicit activity. Tragically, a 9-year-old girl was abused by a sexual predator who broadcast the abuse live over the Internet. While the predator was abusing the young child, online viewers sent instant messages offering suggestions of additional sexual acts. This legislation removes the cloak of security pedophiles have found online by establishing a new crime of promoting and possessing a sex offense against a child.”

This bill creates the new crimes of promoting a  sex offense against a child -- a Class B violent felony -- and possessing a sex offense against a child -- a Class C violent felony. These new crimes directly address the solicitation and/or participation in such heinous acts by other Internet users through tools like instant messaging, e-mails, blogs, etc.

The bill will be sent to the Assembly.