Some Long Island residents are applauding Governor Pataki?s (R-NY) plan to keep violent sex offenders locked up after they serve their time.

A court ruled the plan, which gives the state the right to commit sex offenders to psychiatric facilities without their consent, is legal. Garden City resident Katherine Blaine feels the law is fair, considering children are prey for sexual predators. However, the Nassau ACLU believes offenders? rights are being violated, adding they have paid their debt to society by serving time in prison.

Pataki says the ruling reinforces his belief that violent sex offenders with a repeat past should be kept off the streets until their illness is cured, whether or not their sentence is done.