File #: Res 0609-2010    Version: * Name: NYS Legislature to amend the Penal Law by classifying certain sexual assaults as class A felonies.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 12/20/2010
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to amend the Penal Law by classifying certain sexual assaults as class A felonies.
Sponsors: Peter F. Vallone, Jr., Fernando Cabrera , G. Oliver Koppell, Karen Koslowitz, Annabel Palma, James Vacca, Mathieu Eugene, Peter A. Koo
Council Member Sponsors: 8
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2013*Peter F. Vallone, Jr. City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
12/20/2010*Peter F. Vallone, Jr. City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
12/20/2010*Peter F. Vallone, Jr. City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
Res. No. 609
 
 
Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to amend the Penal Law by classifying certain sexual assaults as class A felonies.
 
 
By Council Members Vallone, Jr., Cabrera, Koppell, Koslowitz, Palma, Vacca, Eugene and Koo
Whereas, Perpetrators who commit any sexual assault crime inflict immeasurable pain on many victims; and
Whereas, According to the U.S. Department of Justice's National Crime Victimization Survey, there were 248,300 sexual assaults in 2007; and
Whereas,  In response to the magnitude of this problem, on April 8, 2009, President Obama proclaimed April 2009 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in order to raise awareness about this issue; and
Whereas, Under the current New York State Penal Law, most of the egregious sex offenses including rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree, and course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree are class B felonies that carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison; and
      Whereas, Given the reported high rate of recidivism by convicted sex offenders released into society, defendants charged with committing such predatory crimes should be subject to harsher sentences; and
      Whereas, In order to begin to address this issue, Assemblymember Michael Cusick and Senator Andrew Lanza introduced legislation (A.7402/S.479), which would amend the Penal Law by increasing the punishment available for the crime of rape in the first degree; and
      Whereas, If enacted, the bill would increase the crime of rape in the first degree from a class B felony to an A-I felony, which carries a sentence of life imprisonment without parole and renders the perpetrator ineligible for parole or conditional release; and
      Whereas, Rape and sexual assault have a lifelong impact on victims, and perpetrators of these heinous crimes should be subject to the most serious punishment; and
      Whereas, Passing legislation to increase the punishment for serious sexual assaults is significant progress in the right direction; now, therefore, be it
      Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Legislature to amend the Penal Law by classifying certain sexual assaults as class A felonies.
 
 
SA
12/3/10
LS# 847
Res. 300/2006