Assemblywoman Janet L. Duprey (R, Peru) says she is discouraged by the recent decision of the Assembly Democrats on the Codes Committee to block legislation that would strengthen protections against violent sexual predators.

Duprey, who represents several eastern St. Lawrence County towns, co-sponsored the bill that would mandate lifetime parole supervision of violent sex offenders after their release from prison.

“It’s vital that we support measures that would better protect people from those who have proven themselves to be dangerous,” said Duprey. “Just recently, there was a reported case of a repeat sex offender allegedly raping another woman just two months after he was released from prison. In spite of various pleas from the perpetrator’s own family that he remain in prison, he was set free and was violent toward another innocent woman.

“It’s critical that we take steps to improve our laws and better protect communities from violent offenders so that cases like this do not happen again. I am disappointed the Majority on the Codes Committee decided to block this essential legislation from moving to the floor for a vote. This is not a partisan issue and should not be treated like one. This is about doing our part to protect our communities the best we can.”

Duprey is a longstanding advocate for enhancing the state’s sex offender laws. Just last month, she called on members of the Assembly to pass legislation that would strengthen residency requirements for sex offenders. Since 2013, she has introduced a bill that would prohibit registered sex offenders from entering or using campgrounds that offer overnight accommodations.