New York state doesn’t want to be too harsh on those convicted of crimes.

That thought applies to the intransigence of state Democrats to broach the idea of tweaking their much-criticized criminal justice reforms just as it does to a piece of common-sense legislation that has been introduced for the past six years in the state Legislature without ever becoming law.

Past history didn’t stop Assemblyman Fred Thiele Jr., R-Sag Harbor, from reintroducing legislation that would make it harder for prosecutors and defense attorneys from making plea bargains in felony sex offense cases. While it’s not likely, A.8803/S.1338 should become law.

Thiele’s proposal is to require that any guilty plea to satisfy a felony sex offense charge include at least a guilty plea to a felony sex crime. When felony sex abuse cases are pleaded down to non-sex offenses, it means defendants are not treated as sex offenders, not required to undergo sex offender treatment or evaluation and are released into the community without notification. Good for Thiele for taking up his cause again this year and pushing for passage of A.8803/S.1338. It may not have much support among Democrats in the state Capitol, but we have a feeling it is supported by a good number of state residents.