By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Some state and local Republican lawmakers say tougher measures must be taken to protect children from repeat sex offenders. They're calling on the State Legislature to approve a bill to strengthen "Megan's Law."
Megan's Law requires convicted sex offenders to be registered with New York State so communities can be notified when they move into neighborhoods. But Republican state lawmakers like State Assemblyman Jim Hayes say the law must now include a new system of "civil confinement" for the most dangerous of sex offenders to avoid repeat attacks on children.
"We believe strongly that judges should have the discretion to keep the most dangerous sex offenders locked away in secure mental facilities, even after they have served their time in prison, if they are deemed a risk to society," Hayes said.
There are 119 registered "level three" sex offenders living in Erie County. Hayes says last month a 94-year-old Tonawanda man sent to prison for molesting a seven-year-old girl -- and he was a repeat offender.
"The predator had already served time in the early 1990s for a similar offense," Hayes continued. "So, it was a repeat offense. It had happened again and it would continue to happen, given all the evidence we have about violent sexual predators."
Erie County Legislator Charles Swanick is supporting efforts to toughen the rules so sex offenders are not able to repeat the crime against children.
"What happened in the Town of Tonawanda was outrageous," Swanick said. "We had a man that was convicted in the past and he is convicted again. It does not change the damage that was done to the family and children."
Republican Assemblyman Brian Kolb of Canandaigua appeared in Buffalo Thursday in support of changes to Megan's law. He says the bill would also prevent offenders from changing their appearance.
"We are proposing that level three sex offenders be required to update their photos every 90 days, while level one and two would be required to update annually," Kolb said.
The new bill would also prohibit sex offenders from moving within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds and day care centers.