Sex Offenders Continue to Endanger Most Vulnerable Families
In the ongoing saga of the fight against sexual predators endangering children throughout New York, Senator Jeff Klein is calling attention to those living in family shelters with his latest investigation. The corresponding report, Unsafe Shelter: Registered Sex Offenders at Family Homeless Shelters, details the alarming and still rising number of Level 2 and 3 sexual predators living side by side with parents and their children in their most desperate state.
There are currently 21 of these dangerous individuals living in New York City’s family homeless shelters, a number that has more than doubled since 2015. In 2007, when Senator Klein first began investigating this alarming phenomenon, there were only six sex such individuals living amongst families.
The report followed the recent discovery of a Level 2 sex offender whose victim was a 15-year-old girl being housed in a local family shelter in The Bronx. Senator Klein gathered with local elected officials including Assembly Members Michael Benedetto and Mark Gjonaj as well as members of the community to demand a change from the Department of Homeless Services. Though the individual was removed, repeated analyses reveal the problem is widespread and persistent.
While Senator Klein has successfully shepherded important legislation banning Level 2 and 3 sex offender from living in family shelters through the State Senate on numerous occasions, the Assembly has continuously failed to act.
You can read Senator Klein’s most recent report in its entirety here.
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