Bill would keep sex predators separate from abuse victims

By Tiffany Brooks

Albany legislators are renewing the push for a bill that would prevent registered sex offenders from being placed in outpatient mental health and chemical dependency therapy sessions with victims with a history of sexual abuse.

The Victim Safe Treatment Act (S. 4251) would amend the mental hygiene law to prohibit registered sex offenders from participating in group therapies with sexual assault victims.

Sen. Phil Boyle, R – Bay Shore, sponsor of the bill, called it common sense legislation that would protect sexual assault victims from further suffering.

"Our real purpose here is to protect sexual assault victims from having to be re-traumatized by going to therapy sessions seeking the help, the treatment they need because of their assaults and find themselves face to face with sexual predators," Boyle said.

http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-02-10-86726.113122-Bill-would-keep-sex-predators-separate-from-abuse-victims.html