Fuschillo Announces New Law to Toughen Penalties For Child Abusers

Senator Charles  Fuschillo, R-Merrick, recently announced that legislation he supported enacting Jay-J’s Law, which allows for tougher penalties against offenders who have been convicted of repeatedly abusing a child, has been signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo.   

“Child abuse is a deplorable crime that must be met with the strictest of punishments,” Fuschillo said. “As a father myself, I cannot imagine how anyone could cause harm to a defenseless child and expect to get away with it."

The new law increases the look-back period to elevate penalties for assault on a child younger than 11-years-old from 3-years-old to 10 years. 

Intentionally causing physical injuries to a child under 11 is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. The charge could be elevated to a class E felony of aggravated assault upon a person less than 11-years-old if the abuser had a prior conviction for the same crime. The charge carries a maximum four-year prison sentence.

Jay-J’s Law is named after Jay-J Bolvin, who was severely beaten by his father in 2011, leaving him with 11 fractured bones and epilepsy.

"By increasing the look-back period to 10 years, we can convict these shameful individuals for their heinous crimes and give the innocent victims the justice they deserve," Fuschillo said. "I commend Governor Cuomo for signing Jay-J’s law.”