Tag: New York

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli fears municipalities across the state are not insistent enough that convicted sex offenders follow post-release laws about notifying police where they are living. In our specific region, this does not appear to be a valid complaint. Once convicted, most felons serve their time and generally are released with the understanding that they’ve paid for their crime. Not so with sex offenses, however. Full Article  

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As thousands of students poured through the Spine and milled about the Student Union on the first day of classes, phones and computers all over campus buzzed and beeped, announcing an incoming email that would set one of their classmates apart. When SUNY recommended to UB students be contacted directly about the presence of a Level 2 sex offender on campus, it singlehandedly brought an end to the short-lived possibility that ____ ____ could experience a normal school year. Full Article Related: Sex Offender Enrolls at UB

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A new law prohibiting anyone with previous sex offense convictions from becoming a volunteer firefighter is an important advancement, but will not drastically change the firefighter vetting process, several area fire chiefs said Tuesday. The legislation prevents registered sex offenders from joining or remaining members of volunteer fire and ambulance companies by requiring applicants to submit to background checks for prior sex offense convictions, according to a Monday announcement from State Sen. John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, who sponsored the bill. Full Article

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Visitors to Carthage Central School District buildings will go through a new security system for admission that will cross-reference a national sex offender registry and provide visitors with a personalized pass with their photo printed on it. “Essentially most schools have a sign-in sheet to monitor who comes into the school,” said Ramona Dent, district director of computer technology. “Sign-in sheets aren’t nearly as secure. The biggest positive is we will now truly know who is in our school district at all times.” Full Article

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NEW YORK (AP) — Seemingly respectable members of the mainstream — a police officer, a paramedic, a rabbi, an airline pilot, an architect, a Boy Scout leader — were caught using the Internet to collect and trade child pornography, federal officials said Wednesday. Full Article

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A suburban county on Long Island, N.Y., is taking a novel approach to monitoring sex offenders: It’s giving the job to a victims’ advocacy group. The measure was approved unanimously earlier this year; lawmakers call it a cost-effective way to keep citizens safe. But a local lawyer calls it a “vigilante exercise,” and convicted sex offenders are organizing to challenge the legislation. Full Article

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ALBANY, N.Y. — A bill that would create a statewide registry of violent felony offenders has passed the Senate. “Brittany’s Law” would require certain convicted felons to register with the state’s Department of Criminal Justice Service after being released from prison and have their names added to a statewide violent felony offender registry, similar to the sex offender registry. Full Article

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Dozens of registered sex offenders living in Suffolk County provided inaccurate addresses in the year since county lawmakers passed a law to intensify monitoring of the ex-convicts, and more than 140 others were found to have violated rules requiring them to update their photos on a state registry. Laura Ahearn, executive director of Parents for Megan’s Law, contracted by the county last year to monitor more than 900 registered sex offenders, told lawmakers Thursday that the increased scrutiny has led to an increase in arrests for violating state reporting requirements.…

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The dangers of being a firefighter. Some are obvious. And others, not so much. That’s why the New York State Firemen’s Association is fighting to prevent what it claims is a danger of a different kind. Convicted sex offenders volunteering as firefighters. “Current labor law does give certain considerations and prohibits sex offenders from working in positions similar to firefighters that are entrusted with people’s safety and well-being. And so we just want some parity brought into our field,” said Andrew Maracco, FASNY lobbyist. Hundreds of firefighters and emergency responders are pushing…

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Fifteen registered sex offenders were arrested this week for allegedly using email accounts on social networking sites like Facebook without first registering those accounts with the state Sex Offender Registry, officials announced Thursday. Under E-Stop legislation passed in 2008, these Oneida County sex offenders were charged with felonies and issued tickets to appear in Whitestown Town Court following a sweep by the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, New York State Police, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and police departments in Kirkland, Utica and Rome. While the arrests do not suggest…

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