FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 10, 2005
Contact: Barbara LoMoriello, Legislative Aide -- #(631) 854-4500

Cooper Acts to Strengthen County’s “Crack House Law”
Violent Crimes Would Be Added to Prohibited Offenses

Legislator Jon Cooper (D-Huntington) has introduced legislation that would strengthen Suffolk County’s existing nuisance abatement law, commonly known as the “Crack House Law.” The bill, which has broad bi-partisan support in the Legislature, would build upon an existing law that allows the county to punish landlords, owners and tenants of properties where drug use, gambling and/or prostitution has been allowed to take place. Under Cooper’s proposed amendment, sanctions would also be triggered in response to a broad range of violent crimes and crimes with weapons.

Under the original law, punishment begins with a posted warning and fines, with potential leans to be placed on the property that would recover the costs of the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators. The crimes that fall under the current law are possession of controlled substances, prostitution, gambling, criminal sale of marijuana in the fourth degree through first degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree through first degree, auto stripping in the second and first degrees, forgery of a vehicle identification number and illegal possession of a vehicle identification number plate. Violations can result in a fine of up to $1,000 for each day the defendant permitted the prohibited conduct to take place.

Cooper’s proposed law would add a number of additional prohibitions: criminal use of a firearm in the second and first degrees, criminal possession of a weapon in the third and second degrees, criminal possession of a dangerous weapon in the first degree, criminal sale of a firearm in the third through first degrees, assault in the first degree, and assault on a peace officer, police officer, fireman or emergency medical services professional.

“The Crack House Law was originally enacted to help keep our communities safer,” Cooper stated. “It only makes sense to add violent crimes to the list of prohibited offenses. By strengthening this law, we can prosecute offenders more effectively and help prevent people who commit repeated crimes of violence from plaguing our local neighborhoods.”

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer added “I applaud Legislator Cooper’s effort to strengthen this legislation. Adding violent crimes to the list of prohibited offenses will help the Suffolk County Police keep these blighted homes from gaining a foothold in our communities.”

The bill was approved unanimously by the Suffolk County Legislature’s Public Safety Committee at their meeting on February 8th. It will go before the full Legislature for a final vote on February 15th.