FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 3, 2005
Contact: Barbara LoMoriello, Legislative Aide -- #(631) 854-4500

PLAY GROUNDS, NOT PREY GROUNDS
Cooper Law Would Prohibit Sex Offenders from Residing Near Playgrounds, Schools and Day Care Centers

As almost a quarter million Suffolk County school children head back for another year of reading, writing and arithmetic, Legislator Jon Cooper (D-Huntington) wants to prevent them from being preyed upon by society’s most dangerous criminals. That’s why he has introduced a bill that would ban all registered sex offenders from taking up residence near facilities where large numbers of children play or learn.

Cooper has authored a resolution (IR 2033) to create a local law that would protect Suffolk County’s most vulnerable and precious residents by making it illegal for any convicted sexual predator to reside within one-quarter mile of playgrounds, schools and day care centers.

“Residency restriction laws are a natural extension of Megan's Law. While these laws won't eliminate child sexual abuse, they will certainly reduce the potential for sexual victimization by restricting a sex offender's access to possible child victims,” says Laura Ahearn, Executive Director of Parents for Megan’s Law. “They provide statutory guidance and clarity to communities and to sex offenders as to what residency restrictions actually are."

“As a parent of five myself, I know you can never guarantee that your kids are always one hundred percent safe,” says Cooper. “But I also know that society’s sexual predators are no different from their animal counterparts. They stalk their quarry in areas where they know there are abundant opportunities. Knowing that a sex offender will not be able to live near a school my children are attending or a park where they are playing provides me comfort in knowing they are that much more secure.”

Cooper’s resolution was laid on the table at the September 27th meeting of the Legislature. It will be the subject of a public hearing scheduled for November 22nd. Cooper is confident that his resolution will overwhelmingly pass at the Legislature’s December 6th general meeting.