The state Senate have passed a bill that would make it easier for New Yorkers to find out if their neighbor has a violent past.
The legislation would create a statewide violent offender registry, similar to the one in place for sex offenders. The bill, S3645C, also known as Brittany's Law, was introduced by Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, and has 14 co-sponsors, including Mike Nozzolio, R-Fayette.
The Republican-controlled state Senate voted overwhelmingly yesterday to force violent felons to register their names and whereabouts annually with local law enforcement and on an Internet database accessible to the public.
The proposal would only apply to new violators convicted of charges deemed violent in state law. The registry would require anyone convicted of a violent felony to update their information annually for 10 years, or more frequently for the most grievous crimes. After a decade, the felon would no longer be required to check in, although his name would remain in the database. Felons could also seek judicial relief from the requirement to register.
For full story:
Senate wants to create violent offenders registry (Legislative Gazette, May 17 2011)
A new tool to fight violence: "Brittany's Law" gaining after deaths of innocents (Times Union, May 18 2011)
Outing violent felons: thug-registry push (NY Post, May 18 2011)
Senate passes bill to create registry of violent felons (Democrat and Chronicle, May 18 2011)
1 Albany bill's great; the other, misguided (Times Herald Record, June 18 2011)
