PEARL RIVER – Republican State Assemblyman Mike Lawler (R, Pearl River) and Democrat Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick (D, Nyack), Monday, announced legislation that would raise expand the ban on parole for someone who murders a child under the age of 18 during a sexual attack.
A current law, “Joan’s Law,” prevents parole for a murderer of a child under the age of 14.
Paula Bohovesky was 16 when murdered by two men in a Pearl River alley in 1980. One of her killers was paroled in 2019 and the other is up for parole in June.
Lawler said that parole policy must come to an end.
“Sadly in New York today we have a parole board that is granting parole to unrepentant cop killers to child rapists and murders and a state legislature that is fighting to give voting rights to these very same people, including one of Paula’s killers who was released from prison on parole and potentially, her other killer, who is up for parole this year. It is unconscionable and cannot stand.”
Both Reichlin-Melnick and Lawler have teamed up in an effort to stop the current practice.
