ALBANY, NY-Representing the SenateMinority Conference, State Senate DeputyMinority Leader Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) participated yesterday in a public six-way meeting with the Governor, Lt. Governor and leaders of the Senate and Assembly to advocate for legislation that would institute stricter charges for repeat offenders. The legislation would create a new crime of Aggravated Criminal Conduct, applicable to offenders who commit a misdemeanor crime and who were convicted of three or more previous misdemeanors or felonies within the last ten years.

added. The measure later passed the Senate.

Klein, a champion for criminal justice issues, lead the fight for a civil confinement law which requires that individuals convicted of violent crimes be psychologically evaluated before being released back into society, and if found unfit, civilly confined to a secure mental facility. In addition, Klein worked successfully with the National Organization of Women to overturn New York’s arcane five year statutory limitations on rape and bring justice to thousands of victims.