Nov

Here’s Pataki’s statement on Judge Silberman’s Ruling

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR GEORGE E. PATAKI
“We are deeply troubled by today’s ruling in the case brought by 12 sexual predators who are challenging the State’s decision to civilly confine them because they represent a real danger to our children and our communities.

“Today’s ruling creates special, new judge-made rights and protections for rapists, predators and pedophiles who are about to be released from prison into our communities. The court is granting convicted sexual predators more rights than law abiding New Yorkers. Without question, if this ruling is allowed to stand it would jeopardize the safety of our children and communities throughout the State. For those reasons, we will be appealing the decision.

“We have been fighting for years to protect our children and families from sexually violent predators because the evidence is clear — many sexual predators pose a grave danger to society even after they have finished their sentences. For that reason, I have proposed legislation since 1998 — legislation modeled after the laws of 16 other states and which has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court — that would provide strong and clear-cut authority to confine sexual predators and avoid court challenges like this one. I commend the State Senate for passing this legislation each year.

“This legal quagmire would be avoided if this bill, which has bipartisan support, was put before the Assembly for a vote. With this one simple action the Assembly Majority could avoid these legal challenges and take a tremendous step forward in protecting New Yorkers from sexual predators.

“But make no mistake, if the Assembly Majority continues to refuse to do the right thing, I will do everything in my power to ensure that sexual predators remain off our streets and away from our children.”

So let’s start calling our state Assembly persons and get this bill passed. http://assembly.state.ny.us/

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