Law Introduced by Assemblyman Joe Lentol and State Senator Daniel Squadron of Williamsburg; On the Initiative of the UJO Following the Shocking Murder of the Philanthropic Man Menachem Stark OBM; State Senator Simcha Felder Played Major Role in Passing the Bill
Would Assist in Terrible Tragedies, Go-d Forbid, to Reduce Anguish, Expedite the Investigation, and to Ensure the Deceased Body is Respected.
The article commends the Assemblyman Lentol and State Senator for introducing the Expedited Missing Persons Act, after the UJO brought the issue to their attention (for more on the law, please click here), and lauds Senator Felder for his key role in passing it in the Senate. It also thanks public officials who joined the act's sponsors when they announced the bill at a press conference at the UJO: Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Assemblywoman Maritza Davilla, a co-sponsor, and Councilman Stephen Levin.
It thanks the Assembly co-sponsors: Buchwald, Davila, Goldfeder, Hevesi, Hikind, Jacobs, Rozic and Simanowitz; and the Senate co-sponsors DILAN, FELDER, LATIMER, MONTGOMERY, PARKER, PERKINS, SAVINO, STAVISKY
Currently, when a deceased body is discovered, it is reported to the State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCSJ), where it is entered into a computer database. Police departments searching for a missing person are also required to share details of the wanted persons. If the computer system identifies a possible match, the police department searching for that person is notified about it.
It frequently takes hours between when a search begins until when the information is entered into the system. Likewise, hours may pass between when a body is found until when it enters the database. Furthermore, the system only searches for matches once in 24 hours. It may easily pass over a day before the information can me matched.
The new act - that is now heading to Governor Cuomo's desk - will "require DCJS to promptly make available personal descriptions and other identifying data of a found body to all law enforcement agencies in the state, and upon request, to agencies outside of the state."
"Excruciating hours passed between when Menachem Stark's body was located, until the authorities realized that the unidentified body in Nassau County was Mr. Stark. The family endured needless pain and anguish between when the body was found until they were notified it was Menachem. We hope that no one else experiences anything similar," said Rabbi Niederman. “This bill was introduced to ensure that in tragic events, the suffering is not increased unnecessarily. Additionally, it will ensure that the body is handled respectfully, according to the family's wishes.”
“I want to thank Rabbi David Niederman for bringing this issue to my attention. The lapse in time between finding an unidentified deceased person and matching them with an identity is crucial to an investigation. The new Lentol-Squadron-Felder law will take direct aim at efficiently streamlining this process for both the DCJS and local police precincts. This has been a great effort between myself, Senator Squadron and Senator Felder to improve this important section of criminal law. Our partnership will continue as we work to ensure that the Governor signs this legislation and implements it as the state policy," Said Assemblyman Joe Lentol.
“When a tragedy occurs, prompt notification makes a difference for families and law enforcement," said Senator Daniel Squadron. "Today’s passage of our Expedited Missing Persons Act is an important step toward making the system work better so we can all have more confidence everything possible is being done to quickly connect with loved ones, and to move forward investigations. I'm pleased to have worked with the community and Rabbi Niederman and thank Assemblymember Lentol for his leadership."
The article also relays a quote by Senator Felder, that: "While we know that this is important to use for religious reasons, so that we could do a chesed shel emes (a favor for the deceased, who can't return the favor), it is, of course, something that would benefit anyone who has a missing loved one G-d forbid.”
“We are grateful to the lead sponsors, Assemblyman Lentol and Senator Squadron, and for Senator Felder for getting the bill passed today. We thank all statewide and local elected officials voting and supporting, and especially those who joined us, at the UJO, many months ago when announcing the introduction of the bill," Rabbi Niederman concluded.May hashem help that this law should never have to be used again, it concludes.
