Res. No. 902

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation to amend the penal code to increase the fine in relation to the crime of forcible touching.

By Council Member Vallone

Whereas, While New York City has experienced a decrease in major crimes over the past several years, sex crime reports have been increasing; and

Whereas, For example, misdemeanor sex crime reports have risen about 37 percent from 2014 to 2018, according to NYPD’s crime statistics; and

Whereas, New Yorkers who use the New York City subway system are particularly vulnerable to sex crimes; and

Whereas, according to various sources, the number of reported sex crimes in the New York City subway system has steadily increased since 2014; and

Whereas, An overall increase in reported subway sex crimes is reflected in most sex crime categories; and

Whereas, For example, reports of forcible touching in the subway system increased by 33.5 percent from 2015 to 2016, according to a report from New York Senator Savino; and

Whereas, The same report revealed that complaints of forcible touching accounted for about 45 percent of sex crimes committed on subways during the first five months of 2017; and

Whereas, New York recently made the crime of forcible touching a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a punishment of up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine; and

Whereas, The financial penalty for the crime of forcible touching is far too lenient to serve as an effective deterrent; and, now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and Governor to sign legislation that would amend the penal code to increase the fine in relation to the crime of forcible touching

LS10398

4/9/19

KMD