The state's Division of Parole failed to update its standards to be more specific as to how many sex offenders could live together in one building, according to Assemblyman Dean Murray (R-Patchogue).

News 12 reported Tuesday that 10 convicted sex offenders are living at a home in Bellport. State records also showed other examples of multiple sex offenders living together in Suffolk County.

The state Legislature passed Corrections Law 203 in 2011, which orders the state Division of Parole to come up with guidelines designed to avoid placing too many sex offenders in any one neighborhood. According to the law, the agency must consider "the number of registered sex offenders residing at a particular property." 

Assemblyman Murray says the division's commissioner admitted that has not yet happened. 

"I spent about a half-hour on the phone with the [Division of Parole] commissioner yesterday, asking where are these rules and regulations that you were supposed to have done seven years ago?" said the assemblyman. "He promised me he would get right on it, but they should have got right on it seven years ago."

Brookhaven Town officials say their hands are tied by a 1989 state court decision that allows unrelated people to live together if they share functions like a traditional family, such as shared space and a shared kitchen. The Town says the property at 936 Walker Ave., where the 10 convicted sex offenders live, has a valid rental permit and passed all inspections late last year. 

News 12 asked the state Division of Parole why the guidelines haven't been updated as required by that 2011 law. Officials said, "The department's primary focus" has been to notify local social services when a sex offender is being released. A spokesman showed News 12 an internal directive updated in 2016, which lays out some of their policies and procedures about approving a sex offenders' living situation. However, it does not publicly update their rules and regulations.