State Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein Releases Disturbing Report on Sex Offender Registry:

Finds pedophiles living close to schools and inaccuracies in address reporting. 

Klein introduces legislation requiring the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision to obtain a quarterly list of schools.

After learning that a Level 2 sex offender, who molested a five year old boy, moved within 1,000 feet of a Bronx school in violation of New York State law, State Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein launched an investigation into the sex offender registry system and discovered that the incident was not an anomaly.

The troublesome findings of a report released today by Klein’s office reveal that six other Level 2 and 3 sex offenders in New York City have been living within 1,000 feet of schools. In the case of Roland Marrero, the sex offender who prompted this report, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and the Department of Criminal Justice Services approved his address within 1,000 feet of P.S. 357, which was constructed in September. The new school was not listed on their database.

Senator Klein introduced legislation, S6600, which would require the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision to obtain a quarterly  list of all elementary and secondary schools in the state to prevent the mistake from happening again.

The analysis also uncovered another alarming error. In over 130 instances registered sex offenders were listed under incorrect zip codes, rending New York's "Sex Offender Alert System" entirely useless. Parents and community members alike utilize the system to receive notification when a sex offender moves into the area.

“These mistakes are leaving entire communities vulnerable to the type of disturbed, dangerous criminals who often strike more than once. There's a reason why the law does not allow pedophiles to live within 1,000 feet of a school. Parents expect those laws to be enforced. That's why I'm committed to passing legislation that will keep a close watch on the Division of Parole and prevent these types of inexcusable mistakes from ever happening again,” Senator Klein said.