Assemblyman 130th Assembly District
JOSEPH A. ERRIGO
| For
immediate release: April 18th, 2006 |
Contact: Bonnie Turner (585) 334-5210 |
|
District Office: 3045 East Henrietta Rd., Henrietta, NY 14467 Albany Office: Rm 427 LOB, Albany, NY 12248 |
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LEGISLATIVE COLUMN
CONTACT: BONNIE TURNER (585) 334-5210
SEX OFFENDER RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR TOUGHER LAWS
Civil Confinement Will Keep Our Communities Safer
Conesus is a typical quiet Western
New York community with caring families and excited children enjoying
springtime. However, the potential of danger has arrived to this quiet
corner of the state.
Jeff Baker, a convicted Level 3 sex offender, was
released from prison on April 19 after serving 20 out of his 30-year prison
term. He is again free to roam amongst our wives, sons, and daughters. Baker
was convicted after raping eight women in the greater Rochester-area all of
whom ranged in age of 19 to 81. Are families safe with someone like Baker on
our streets? The answer is doubtful.
Baker’s release places the residents of Conesus at
peril and adds worries to parents in communities. Parents may not have a
moments rest while their children are home or at play.
Currently, level 3 sex offenders are only required to
register with the local police department where they live, which is posted
to the New York state Sex Offender Registry.
To see if any convicted sexual offenders are living
near you contact your local police department or visit
www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/index.htm.
This year marked a start on the issue of dangerous sex
offenders with extensions to Megan’s Law but more needs to be done. The cost
of inaction at this juncture is going to be paid with innocent lives. I am
hopeful my colleagues in the Assembly will see the dangers posed by the
release of dangers offenders like this in communities and think long and
hard about enacting Civil Confinement.
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