Sex Offenders Continue to Endanger Youngest Students

Sex Offenders Continue to Endanger Youngest Students

A little known and shocking loophole in state law is being exposed thanks to the efforts of Senator Jeff Klein, who just this week exposed its dangers with the release of his latest report. Entitled, Preying on Pre-K’s, the report shows the serious need to update New York’s antiquated statute so that sexual predators are not allowed to live within 1,000 feet of standalone pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms.

Currently, the definition of the word school does not include standalone pre-kindergartens and an investigation found 93 sex offenders living within 1,000 feet of these facilities across New York City. Pre-K’s attached to traditional elementary schools, however, are covered by the law. Despite this, 60 predators are violating the law at this very moment which prohibits Level 2 and 3 sex offenders from living within the set distance.

A bill authored by Senator Klein would remedy the situation and protect the rest of New York’s youngest students from these predators and has passed the State Senate on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, the Assembly has failed to act on the important legislation.

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