HELMING BILL STRENGTHENS PENALTIES FOR FAILING TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER

GENEVA – Senator Pam Helming today announced the New York State Senate passed legislation (S3030A) she sponsors to strengthen penalties for sex offenders who don’t register on the state sex offender registry.  This bill would increase the penalty for failing to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registry Act to a class D felony for all first offenses and all subsequent offenses.  

“Sex offenders are among the most heinous criminals in our communities. The statewide sex offender registry is an effective way to track these individuals and make their information publicly available to parents and the community at large. However, in some instances, offenders choose not to register. By strengthening penalties, we are sending a strong message to offenders that our communities will not tolerate their disregard for the law. This legislation is about keeping our communities safe. I thank my colleagues on both sides of aisle for supporting this important measure and urge the Assembly to pass it quickly,” Senator Pam Helming said.

Currently, the penalty for failing to register or verify with the Sex Offender Registry is a class E felony for a first offense and a class D felony for a second or subsequent offense. Failing to register is a serious offense that can put many lives in danger. Increasing this penalty to a class D felony for all offenses would re-enforce the seriousness of this crime.

The bill would also prohibit sex offenders who are required to register under the Sex Offender Registry Act from operating, employing or dispensing goods from a mobile food service establishment– such as an ice cream truck- and would designate such offense as a class D felony.

Senator Helming’s bill was passed as part of a package of critically important bills to strengthen laws that will help put an end to the sexual exploitation of children and prevent recurrences of sexual abuse through increased training, enhanced public awareness, and additional restrictions on convicted sexual predators.

The bill has been sent to the Assembly for consideration.

###