Sex Offenders Illegally Living in Public Housing: State Senator

Dozens of registered sex offenders are still living illegally in public housing across the city, according to a report by state senator Jeffrey D. Klein (D, WF).

Seventy-five sex offenders at risk levels 2 and 3 live in the city's public housing. That's one more than Klein reported in a similar investigation four months ago. Broken down by borough, the report found 19 in the Bronx, 30 in Brooklyn, 17 in Manhattan, 5 in Queens and 4 on Staten Island. Manhattan also contained the zip code with the highest concentration of registered sex offenders.

"The newest data demonstrates that the existence of New York's sex offender registry and the presence of law enforcement are simply not enough," the report says.

A new law, set to go into effect September 28th, will require the Division of Criminal Justice Services to send monthly updates of registered sex offenders' information to public housing authorities. Klein, who wrote the bill, expressed hope that the new law will help public housing officials and law enforcement.

"No parent or caregiver should ever have to worry that their child is at risk -- especially right in their own backyard," he said in a statement. "By making it easier for authorities to get quick, accurate information about registered sex offenders...this law will help prevent additional offenders from moving into public housing and remove those who are currently breaking the law."

In 1998, a federal law was passed prohibiting convicted sex offenders from living in subsidized housing. Since then, the numbers had been on the decline. it dropped between the spring of 2009 and 2010 by 41 percent. In April 2009, 126 registered sex offenders were reported to be living in public housing according to a report by Councilman Eric Gioia.

Although the decline may have been influenced by the "fluid" nature of the frequently-updated State Sex Offender Registry, says Klein, the drop shows that the City has responded to Gioia's alarming 2009 report. "A 41 percent drop in unlawful sex offender residents over the course of 12 months was certainly a significant achievement," according to the report.