State and Buffalo Schools To Be Targeted

Erie County Legislator Timothy M. Kennedy proposed a resolution calling for State Legislators and Buffalo schools to re-examine efforts to disseminate information pertaining to sex offenders living in the 2nd Legislative District and throughout the City of Buffalo. The resolution also calls for New York State leaders to enhance the information distributed on the sex offender registry website.

“I am here to do anything I can to protect our most valued resource, our children” Kennedy said. Legislator Kennedy has called on the Superintendent of the Buffalo Public Schools, upon appointment, to work with the Buffalo Board of Education, Buffalo Police Department, Erie County Department of Probation, as well as other law enforcement, school, and neighborhood entities to distribute appropriate warning and advisory information to residents concerning local sexual offenders.

According to the New York State Attorney General’s website there are more than 14,000 convicted sex offenders registered in New York State under the Sex Offender Registration Act, better known as "Megan's Law."

Under Megan's Law, sex offenders are required to register with the State after conviction, or if they serve time in prison, upon their release, and notify the registry when they relocate. Sex offenders who move to New York from another state also must register. Megan's Law creates 3 levels of sex offenders: Level 1 (low risk), Level 2 (moderate risk), and Level 3 (high risk).

“Within the City of Buffalo, there is no efficient notification process that gets this information to neighbors of sex offenders. The suburban districts of Erie County utilize their school districts to assist in getting the information out to the public,” Kennedy stated. “It is imperative that we work together within government and within the community as a whole to ensure proper notification exists to protect our children.” Legislator Kennedy held an emergency meeting with members of the Buffalo Police Department and Erie County Probation Department and conversed with the Sexual Offense Squad from the City of Buffalo to develop a plan that will be implemented immediately. “My office will work as a liaison between the Public Safety entities and the neighborhood block club leaders to ensure that any new offender that moves into our neighborhood is known to the residents of the 2nd Legislative District. My long-term goal is to work with government officials in the City of Buffalo to establish guidelines within the Buffalo Public School system similar to those in suburban school districts for the notification of local residents when sexual offenders move into their neighborhoods.

The other important component to the legislation calls on New York State to increase knowledge of sexual offenders in our neighborhoods by including level 2 offenders on the website. The website listing is www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us/.

For more information please contact Legislator Kennedy’s office at 824-6180 or stop by 1928 South Park Avenue.

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