(Albany, NY)- The New York State Senate today passed legislation, S.1901 by Senator John J. Bonacic (R/C/I-Mt.Hope), that would increase safety and security at alcohol and substance abuse treatment facilities that are utilized for judicial diversion programs. This legislation would require a court to consider a defendants propensity for violence before assigning them to a judicial diversion program for substance abuse and would require a greater level of security at facilities that treat judicial diversion defendants.

“A defendant’s propensity to commit violence is something that needs to be taken into account when the court system is assigning him or her to a judicial diversion program for substance abuse,” said Senator Bonacic. “By passing this legislation, we are taking proactive steps to protect the staff of these facilities from unnecessary harm by violent offenders. I urge the Assembly to pass this bill now.”

Senator Bonacic was moved to sponsor this legislation after an incident at the Renaissance Project, a substance abuse treatment facility outside of Ellenville, NY, claimed the life of a security guard and badly injured a nurse in 2010. Richard Giga, a felon with a history of violence, killed security guard Lee Wood and stabbed Nurse Keri Reynolds, seriously wounding her. Giga then led police ona 15-hour manhunt before he was captured.

The bill now moves to the Assembly for consideration.