Saturday, May 21, 2011

Violent felon registry may be coming soon

From the NY Post:

Murderers, muggers and even simple barroom brawlers will find their names on the same kind of public listings now required for pedophiles, rapists and other pervs if the state Senate gets its way.

The Republican-controlled state Senate voted overwhelmingly yesterday to force violent felons to register their names and whereabouts annually with local law enforcement and on an Internet database accessible to the public.

The law would apply to anyone convicted of a crime classified as violent under current state law, ranging from murder to robbery to assault, and would last 10 years from release unless lifted by a court.

It could face a hitch in the Democratic-controlled Assembly, where it is sponsored by Assemblyman Mike Spano (D-Yonkers). Assembly Codes Chairman Joseph Lentol (D-Brooklyn) said he favored hearings to determine whether such a law would prevent convicts from successfully returning to society after serving their time.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I understand the way average people might think about this issue...But try actually thinking about the consequences.

Our prison system is euphemistically called "Corrections" because it purports to correct bad, antisocial behavior -that's the stated mission anyway. Putting a scarlet letter on someone's head for something they may have done in the heat of anger and maybe only once...is counterproductive.

The news media regularly reports about sex offenders who are chronically unemployed and bounce from trailer park to hobo camp and often end up committing other crimes.

Bad idea.

If you are thinking: "words of a bleeding heart LIberal" think again, I favor the death penalty for premeditated murder, torture and some cases of rape.

And, people who are repeatedly convicted of violent, non-lethal offenses should be kept inside for life. Period.

But, this legislation is classic republican diversionary tactics, just like the Rockefeller Drug laws. They filled our prisons and did little, or nothing stop drug use.

These sorts of people (gop) want to play on your fears and prejudices thus vote for them and ignore the real issues.

Anonymous said...

Our prison system is euphemistically called "Corrections" because it purports to correct bad, antisocial behavior -that's the stated mission anyway.


Prison is nothing more than a hate factory and it only teaches people how to become more violent and more cunning in your/their criminal activities.

If you weren't a violent person before entering prison/correctional facilities, you're most likely going to be a more violent person when leaving.

On another note. It is illegal to discriminate someone on their criminal record when applying for a job.

Anonymous said...

This will never fly. There are confidentiality issues and besides, there are just too many criminals in NYC. Whatever agency that tried to regulate this would be overwhelmed. Look for the Civil Liberties group to screech this idea to a halt.

Anonymous said...

Would Monserratt have to register?

Anony-mouse #1 Translated said...

I understand the way average people might think about this issue

Translation: "I'm above average, and I'm superior to all you Archie Bunker Queens Crap readers."

But try actually thinking about the consequences.

Translation: "I haven't actually thought this out myself, I'm just pulling talking points out of my ass, and cut and pasting comments from Puffington Host."

The news media regularly reports about sex offenders who are chronically unemployed and bounce from trailer park to hobo camp and often end up committing other crimes.

Translation: "I make enough money to live in a good neighborhood where I don't have to actually come across these types of people. If I actually did deal with criminals, I'd favor cutting off their hands like they do in Saudi Arabia."

If you are thinking: "words of a bleeding heart LIberal"

Translation: "De Nile is not just a river in Egypt."

But, this legislation is classic republican diversionary tactics, just like the Rockefeller Drug laws.

Translation: "I conveniently overlook all those black Democratic politicians who advocated harsh penalties for crack possession in the late 80's, because they don't fit my narrative."

These sorts of people (gop) want to play on your fears and prejudices thus vote for them and ignore the real issues.

Translation: "I'm a true blue democrat, and if it were up to me, I'd favor raising your taxes to pay for all sorts of ineffective and useless social programs that have no impact on reforming criminals. But at least it sounds like I care."

Queens Crapper said...

"On another note. It is illegal to discriminate someone on their criminal record when applying for a job."

It most certainly is not. If it were, no one would do a criminal background check.

Anonymous said...

The New York State Human Rights Law states that an applicant may not be denied
employment or licensure because of his or her conviction record unless there is a direct
relationship between the offense and the job or license sought, or unless hiring or
licensure would create an unreasonable risk to property or to public or individual safety.21
This law applies to employers with ten or more employees.22 A person with a criminal
record who is denied employment is entitled to a statement of the reasons for such
denial.23 Factors to consider in analyzing whether employment may be denied are found
in N.Y. Corrections Law, Article 23-A.24 In addition, an employer may not inquire about
nor act upon an arrest that was terminated or determined in favor of the individual.25

Upon request and within thirty days, the applicant must be given a written statement of
the reasons why employment was denied. The provisions of this law do not apply to the
licensing activities of governing bodies in relation to the regulation of firearms, or an
application for employment as a police officer or peace officer.

NYS Executive Law (Human Rights Law) Section 296(16) "It is unlawful discrimination, unless specifically required or permitted by statute to make an inquiry about , whether in an application form or otherwise or to act upon adversely to the individual involved any arrest or criminal accusation of such individual not then pending against such individual which was then followed by termination of that criminal action or proceeding in favor of such individual, as defined by Section 160.50 of the Criminal Procedure Law. This part specifically does not apply to the licencing or regulation of firearms of the application for employment as a police or peace officer."

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR RESPONSE.

Cav said...

Anonymous# 1, if what you meant was it's better to keep violent recidivist felons in prison than to create another bureaucracy to monitor released convicted felons then I agree. Could have been a bit more succinct but good point.

The part about the scarlet letter, heat of anger and maybe only once usually ends up as a misdemeanor conviction at worst. So very few in that situation would be affected by this.

Don't know where the digression about the gop was heading but the democrats too use scare tactics to get votes as well. Politics-101. Moot point.

Queens Crapper said...

"unless hiring or licensure would create an unreasonable risk to property or to public or individual safety."

If employee is a past thief, there is a risk to property. If there is a history of violent felony then there is a risk to public or individual safety. Here's a great example: you cannot have a felony in your past and work in an inpatient health care facility in NYS. A fingerprint background check is required.

Anonymous said...

Turn the prisons into work camps, if you don't behave, you don't eat...oh & tear down the projects while you're at it...what an eyesore!