Raia Calls For Public Database Of Violent Felons

Press Release From the Office of Assemblyman Raia

Assemblyman Andrew Raia called on Assembly leadership to bring potentially lifesaving legislation to a vote.

Brittany’s Law, which would create a publicly accessible state-wide database of violent felons, has been passed by a wide margin in the State Senate. Raia has been fighting for this common-sense legislation since its introduction in 2010.

“We already have a database for convicted sex offenders; this is the next logical step to help prevent needless violence and death,” said Raia. “The felons that would be found on this list forfeited their right to privacy when they so clearly violated the rights of the individuals they chose to maim or kill.”

The bill is named after Brittany Buchel from Geneva, New York who was murdered, along with her mother, Helen Buchel, in November 2009. Both were stabbed to death in their Geneva apartment by Helen Buchel’s boyfriend, John Brown, a convicted felon who had been paroled just months earlier. Brittany was 12 years old.