Are all sex offenders included on the NJ official internet registry?
No. Tier one offenders are not included. Some Tier II offenders are not included. N.J.S.A. 2C:7-13 provides presumptions that certain Tier Two offenders are not included, e.g. juveniles and certain incest and statutory offenders. Only New Jersey sex offenders who otherwise meet the criteria for the internet registry are included on the official New Jersey registry.
Does Megan’s Law prevent sex offenders from having contact with all children?
No, the Megan’s Law statute does not prohibit sex offenders from all contact with children. The statute is not explicitly set up to create a system of day to day supervision. There may, however, be other legal restrictions on their contact with children, including their own. Some sex offenders are subject to Parole Supervision for Life pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6.4. The Division of Parole may prohibit or limit their contact with children. The Court may prohibit or limit sex offenders with open substantive charges from contact with children as a condition of bail. Moreover, N.J.S.A. 2C:7-22 & 7-23 provide that sex offenders are subject to criminal prosecution if they participate in a “youth serving organization,” which is defined as a sports team, league, athletic association or any other corporation, association or organization, excluding public and nonpublic schools, which provides recreational, educational, cultural, social, charitable or other activities or services to persons under 18 years of age. A person who knowingly hires, engages or appoints an excluded sex offender to a youth serving organization is also subject to criminal prosecution.
Does Megan’s Law prevent sex offenders from living near schools or parks?
No. It is also noted that in 2009 the New Jersey Supreme Court invalidated municipal ordinances that attempted to restrict where sex offenders may live.
Where can I find the official New Jersey Sex Offender Internet Registry?
The New Jersey State Police/Attorney General’s Office Official New Jersey Sex Offender Internet Registry is found at http://www.state.nj.us/lps/njsp/info/reg_sexoffend.html
Is there a national sex offender internet registry?
Yes. The United States Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website is accessible at http://www.nsopw.gov/ This registry will contain information about sex offenders subject to internet publication throughout the United States.
I found sex offender databases run by private organizations on the internet. Some charge money for access. Are these databases reliable?
There is only one official New Jersey sex offender registry and one official national sex offender registry. Links to the official databases are found above, and the official databases are free to the public.
Do strangers commit the majority of sex crimes?
No. It is a myth that most sexual assaults are committed by strangers. Most sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim or the victim’s family, regardless of whether the victim is a child or an adult. One study found 96 percent of reported child sexual abuse cases involving children under age 12 knew the attacker. (Patrick Langan and Caroline Wolf Harlow, “Child Rape Victims, 1992,” Crime Data Brief, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics 1994).
Who are sex offenders?
Sex offenders are found in all segments of society. Although some are strangers to the victims, offenders may be friends of the family, step-parents, uncles, aunts, siblings, cousins, teachers, coaches, religious leaders, neighbors, babysitters, or even parents.
I run a community organization for children and/or women. How can I receive notifications of Tier Two and Tier Three sex offenders in my area?
Contact Det. Claire Odierna of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Megan’s Law Unit at (201) 795-6400, Ext. 6571.
Where can I find additional information about Megan’s Law in New Jersey?
See the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office website at http://www.nj.gov/oag/dcj/megan/index.htm.