Democrats seeking to be New York’s next attorney general tackled a new issue in their debates — how to handle the civil confinement of some sex offenders after they’ve completed their sentences.
There also was a bit of a flare-up at the WAMC public radio studio among the group of five candidates who have mostly stuck to issues.
Sean Coffey, the former prosecutor and attorney, said he recently presented his government reform package and candidate Kathleen Rice “copied most of it a few days later.”
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Rice, the Nassau County district attorney, denied that. She also told the wealthy Coffey that she doesn’t have the “luxury of self-funding my own campaign.” She said his “massive political donations” make him more a creature of politics than she is.
Coffey, who called himself a true outsider, said he donated $5,000 to her campaign last year.
“She doesn’t like my contributions now, but she certainly held on to that money,” Coffey said.
The civil confinement of sex offenders was raised in the debate after getting little attention in the half-dozen forums so far. It’s a tricky one for Democrats hoping to attract votes from the left-leaning Democrats expected to dominate the Sept. 14 primary.
“I think it’s a good thing, I think it’s working,” said Richard Brodsky, a Westchester assemblyman. He supported the program that evaluates the likelihood of sex offenders to commit more “horrific” crimes on children after their release from prison. The system involves the state attorney general’s office, the office of mental health and corrections to hold some sex offenders deemed to have a defect that makes them a continuing danger.
Brodsky said the law balances civil liberties and public protection.
Rice said she supports civil confinement beyond sentences for the “worst of the worst.” But she wants tougher sentencing and laws.
“I believe if you rape a child, you should go to prison for the rest of your life,” said the Nassau County district attorney. “We need to strengthen our laws.”
She also wants a law against “luring” children over the Internet.
Dinallo, a former assistant attorney general and state insurance superintendent, supports the law and promises to “vigorously enforce it.” But he said the civil confinement shows the need for an attorney general to have experience as a prosecutor as well as in civil law.
“It’s very important to put someone in there who can do both from the very first day,” Dinallo said. “You need that balance.”
Coffey agreed the attorney general isn’t primarily a “super district attorney.” He said he has that experience as a former federal prosecutor and private attorney in civil law, often taking on major banks with limited resources and on tight budgets.
“That is an important skill in a government agency facing declining budgets,” Coffey said.
Eric Schneiderman, a state senator from Manhattan and former prosecutor, didn’t attend Wednesday’s debate. He issued a press release saying there already is a felony charge for luring a child on the Internet, and that it’s better and easier to prosecute than Rice’s proposal.
The winner of the Sept. 14 primary will face Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan, a Republican, in the Nov. 2 general election. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, is running for governor.
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By MICHAEL GORMLEY,Associated Press Writer
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
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