Lawmakers look into pedophile-free safety zones

Niagara County lawmakers are considering a bipartisan plan that would make it a crime for registered sex offenders to linger within 1,000 feet of a school, park, child care facility or other public and private location frequented by children.



If approved, the so-called “Niagara County Pedophile-Free Child Safety Zone Act” would allow convicted sex offenders found in violation of the “Safety Zone” standards to be charged with Class B misdemeanors, punishable by fines of up to $500 and imprisonment of up to three months in jail. Under the proposed law, repeat offenders could be hit with class A misdemeanors that carry fines of up to $1,000 and sentences of up to one year in jail.



“We are trying to limit the opportunities for children to be victimized,” said one of the bill’s co-sponsor’s, Legislator Paul Wojtaszek, R-North Tonawanda. The bill, which is being co-sponsored by Legislators Jason Cafarella, D-Niagara Falls, and John Ceretto, R- Lewiston, notes that there exists a “heightened potential” for repeat offenses against minors when convicted sex offenders “reside, have employment or frequent” areas where children are likely to congregate.



Under the proposed law, registered sex offenders would be forbidden from living, working or loitering within 1,000 feet of areas and facilities that would provide them with “easy access to potential victims.” The restriction would be lifted in instances where convicted sex offenders have completed sentencing and are no longer required to register under the state’s Sex Offender Registration Act.



“It’s not overkill,” Wojtaszek said. “We’re trying to show that we are being proactive, but we’re also trying to be reasonable.” The measure is expected to be presented for review by the Legislature on Tuesday at which time a request could be made to set a public hearing date on the proposal.