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New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio announced Tuesday that the State Senate has taken a tremendous step forward in adopting a tougher stance against violent crime by enacting “Brittany’s Law”.  This legislation, S.1850A, sponsored by Senator Nozzolio, will create a publically accessible registry of convicted violent felons.

“Brittany’s Law represents a major step forward for our State in the fight against violent crime.  By putting new measures in place to track violent offenders and keeping our communities informed of their whereabouts, Brittany’s Law will save lives.  As Chairman of the Senate Codes Committee,  I will continue my aggressive efforts to enact tougher sentencing laws for violent criminals, reinforce laws to protect women and children from domestic violence, and strengthen the rights of crime victims to prevent future tragedy from occurring,” said Nozzolio.

The New York State Senate adopted Brittany’s Law in 2011 and 2012, but the New York City-controlled leadership of the State Assembly has repeatedly refused to bring the legislation to the floor for a vote. Nozzolio has continued his efforts to see the measure enacted into law.  Nozzolio has worked with law enforcement officials, crime victims’ advocates and Dale Driscoll, grandmother to Brittany Passalacqua, for whom the law is named.

In November of 2009, 12-year-old Brittany Passalacqua was brutally murdered along with her mother, Helen Buchel, at their home in Geneva. The perpetrator was John Edward Brown, a violent convicted felon who had been released from prison early after serving only 2 ½ years for assaulting his infant daughter in 2003. Brown had been put on parole just months before he committed the murders.

Since these tragic murders occurred, Nozzolio has worked closely with Dale Driscoll to develop legislation that would establish tougher penalties for violent offenders so they can no longer threaten the lives and safety of innocent people in our communities.

“All we need now for the violent offender registry to become a reality is for the State Assembly to adopt Brittany’s Law. New York State currently requires all convicted sex offenders to register with the State and keeps track of those individuals.  It makes no sense that we do not do the same for those who commit violent felony crimes against our citizens. We cannot continue to put innocent New Yorkers at risk," concluded Nozzolio.

“Words cannot express the gratitude my family and I share for all the hard work Senator Nozzolio has done to fight for Brittany’s Law,” said Driscoll. “These horrific crimes devastated our family.  If this legislation prevents another family from suffering what we have been through, my daughter and granddaughter will not have died in vain.  People should have the right to know who they’re bringing into their lives and I will continue to work with Senator Nozzolio to push for this measure in the Assembly.”

Brittany’s Law would require all individuals convicted of a violent felony to register with the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) upon release from prison. The registry would be accessible to the public, similar to the registry of sex offenders that the State currently has in place.  The legislation also establishes annual registration requirements for offenders to allow local law enforcement agencies and the State to monitor the whereabouts of these individuals.

Nozzolio has been an outspoken advocate for criminal justice reform, crime victims' rights and tougher sentencing guidelines for violent criminals and sexual predators. He has fought to end work release and conjugal visit programs for dangerous felons, and helped enact critical legislation including Megan's Law, the Sex Offender Reform Act, the Domestic Violence Prevention and Family Protection Act and Jenna's Law. Senator Nozzolio is also working to enact “Jackie’s Law”, which would empower law enforcement to pursue charges and prosecute criminals who use a GPS or electronic tracking device to stalk victims.

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