Stricter Residency Rules Needed for Sex Offenders: Officials

Senator David Carlucci, (D – Rockland/Westchester), Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski (D – New City), Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack (D – Clarkstown), and Clarkstown residents hosted a press conference May 26 calling for stricter residency requirements for sex offenders.

Due to a loophole in New York State law, a Level 3 sex offender is currently legally residing approximately 175 feet from Nella Di Nuovo Daycare. The daycare facility is located on Lenox Avenue, in a residential area of Congers.

“I do not want him to be near the children,” said Nella Di Nuovo. “I want to feel safe, and we don’t right now.”

Senator Carlucci, Assemblyman Zebrowski, Supervisor Gromack, Nella Di Nuovo and other Clarkstown residents rallied in support of legislation that would prohibit sex offenders from residing 1,000 feet from a daycare facility.

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision interprets current law from prohibiting sex offenders from knowingly residing within 1,000 feet of school buildings and from knowingly traveling within 1,000 feet of school buildings, leaving daycare and pre-kindergarten facilities vulnerable to sexual predators, they said.

“As a new father, it’s unsettling to know that current law leaves our youngest children unprotected from some of the most violent and perverse criminals,” said Carlucci. “We must close this loophole immediately.”

He said within eight years of their release, level three sex offenders are rearrested almost 50 percent of the time.

“The recent news of a level three sex offender moving just houses away from a daycare center has understandably left the community extremely concerned,” said Zebrowski. “When sex offenders are placed in our community there needs to be vigilant enforcement, transparency and communication to ensure that residents can better educate their children to the dangers of these individuals.”

Carlucci’s legislation S3223A would prohibit sex offenders from moving to a residence that is within 1000 feet of any school building regularly used for instructional purposes, a building in which child day care is provided. Similar legislation, A1658, is being pushed in the New York State Assembly by Zebrowski.

“I feel that we need to put legislation in place that protects our children,” said Annemarie Meehan, the owner Guardian Angels Daycare. “This home was not vetted properly, the surrounding homes were not checked to see how many children lived here. The New York State Parole Board couldn’t even give local authorities a heads up, or even an explanation on how they came to the conclusion that this man was allowed to live in our neighborhood.”

“As Town Supervisor I am outraged that known sex offenders can live in such close proximity to schools, daycare facilities, and playgrounds were our precious children learn and play,” said Gromack.

He said the only way to achieve stricter residency standards is through state legislation because local laws have been struck down by the New York state Court of Appeals.

PHOTO/Sen. Carlucci’s Office