By Howard Koplowitz
Addabbo drafted a bill earlier this month that would prohibit sex offenders with the most risk of committing another offense from living close to schools and parks in New York City.He said the idea for the bill came from his constituents, who were worried that their children were attending school or playing at a park close to where a sex offender lived.Since June 2006, the addresses of Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders have been sent to local law enforcement and are available on the Internet.”This legislation represents a response to the concerns expressed by many of my constituents,” Addabbo said in a statement issued Saturday. “Those concerns included where their children played or went to school and the proximity of where a prior sex offender was living.”The names of every sex offender who was convicted as of Jan. 21, 1996 are listed in a state database and registered with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. The list can be found at www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor.More than 2,100 sex offenders live in the city.Citing the state database, Addabbo said 85 percent of Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders are living within five blocks of a school and 32 percent within two blocks. Addabbo said more than half Ð 52 percent Ð of child molesters commit another sex offense.”These statistics make it clear that the public, especially young children, need the protection of additional space between prior sex offenders living in their communities and schools and parks where community members congregate,” Addabbo said. The councilman said Long Island and four counties upstate have similar laws to the one he is proposing on the books.Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
