Senator Ryan Passes Legislation Strengthening Penalties for Repeat Sexual Offenders
May 29, 2026
State Senator Christopher J. Ryan (SD-50) today announced the passage of Senate Bill S9616, legislation that strengthens New York’s persistent sexual abuse laws by allowing prosecutors to consider a person’s full criminal history of sex offenses when pursuing enhanced charges against repeat offenders.
Under current law, prosecutors may only look back ten years when determining whether someone qualifies for a charge of Persistent Sexual Abuse. This bill removes that limitation, ensuring that prior convictions for qualifying sex offenses can be considered regardless of when they occurred.
“There has been a staggering and deeply concerning number of sexual abuse cases across our communities, and far too many survivors are carrying the lasting trauma of these crimes,” said Senator Ryan. “I am committed to ensuring that we are doing everything in our power to make sure repeat offenders cannot escape accountability simply because earlier convictions fall outside of an arbitrary timeline. This legislation recognizes patterns of abuse for what they are and give prosecutors the tools they need to better protect our communities and support survivors.”
Persistent Sexual Abuse is currently charged as a Class E felony when an individual commits certain lower-level sexual offenses after having previously been convicted of qualifying sex crimes. By eliminating the ten-year lookback restriction, the bill gives prosecutors greater ability to hold repeat offenders accountable and better protect communities from serial predatory behavior.
Senator Ryan is urging the Assembly to pass the legislation and send it to the Governor’s desk.
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