For immediate release September 19, 2005

Abrahams and Nassau’s majority legislators call for residency restrictions for registered sex offenders

Proposed law would prohibit residency near schools& parks

Nassau County Legislator Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead) and Majority lawmakers today proposed a law restricting registered sex offenders from living near schools and parks or playgrounds. If approved, the proposed law would give Nassau County one of the strictest sex offender laws on the books in the entire state.

“This law will ensure that the county’s vulnerable children are not victimized by repeat sex offenders,” said Legislator Abrahams, sponsor of the law. “Up until now registered sex offenders could be released from jail and move right next to a school or park, even if their original crime was committed at a similar site.”

The proposed law will require any registered Level II or Level III sex offender to be prohibited from living within 600 feet from the entrances of a school or 600 feet from the perimeter of a county, town, village or city-run public park which contains a playground. The law will not apply to those offenders who have established a residence prior to September 1, 2005.

"Residency restriction laws are a natural extension of Megan’s Law. While

these laws won’t eliminate child sexual abuse, they will certainly reduce the potential for sexual victimization by restricting a sex offender’s access to possible child victims," said Laura Ahearn, Executive Director of Parents for Megan’s Law.

“Nassau County will now have one of the toughest laws on the books relating to level II and level III sex offenders,” stated Legislator Abrahams. “This law will serve as an excellent companion law to Megan’s law as it addresses the omission in the state statute that allows offenders to move dangerously close to areas where children are regularly found in large numbers.”

The law allows offenders 60 days to move after they have been notified. Any violation is punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and possible jail time. The law is expected to come before the legislature sometime next month.