New Jersey Section 2C:7-7 – Notification of community to which sex offender moves

New Jersey’s Sex Offender Community Notification Law – What You Need to Know

New Jersey’s sex offender community notification law, also known as “Megan’s Law,” requires law enforcement to notify the public when certain sex offenders move into their neighborhood. This article provides an overview of the law—who it applies to, what information is shared, and the debate around community notification.

What is Megan’s Law?

In 1994, seven-year-old Megan Kanka was raped and killed by a neighbor in New Jersey who was a convicted sex offender. The public was outraged that they weren’t notified he was living nearby. So in 1994, New Jersey passed the first “Megan’s Law” to establish a sex offender registry and require notification to the community when sex offenders move in. All 50 states now have some version of Megan’s Law.

Who does NJ’s community notification law apply to?

In New Jersey, the law applies to sex offenders who are designated as moderate or high risk to reoffend. This includes:

• Those convicted of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, kidnapping, luring a child, criminal sexual contact if the victim is under 13 years old, and more. See the <a href=”https://www.nj.gov/njsp/info/reg_sexoffenders.html”>full list of qualifying offenses</a>.
• Sex offenders who are determined to have a moderate or high risk of reoffending based on the Registrant Risk Assessment Scale. This 15-question scale looks at the seriousness of the offense, relationship to the victim, number of offenses/victims, age of the offender, drug/alcohol abuse, and other factors.

What information is shared with the community?

For moderate and high-risk offenders, law enforcement notifies:
Schools, daycares, and youth groups in the area
Residents who live nearby
Businesses and organizations in the community
The notification includes the offender’s name, photograph, physical description, home address, place of employment or school, and a description of their vehicle and license plate number.
Police also share details about the offender’s qualifying crime(s)—what offenses they were convicted of, when they occurred, their relationship to the victim, and the gender and age of the victim.

How is the community notified when an offender moves in?

There’s no one way notifications happen. Common strategies include:
Door-to-door visits by police to nearby homes
Phone calls to residents
Email alerts
Press releases to local media outlets
Community meetings
Fliers distributed in the area
Police departments have a lot of discretion on who specifically gets notified and how. There’s no requirement to notify every resident within a certain radius. But in general, notifications target those living in close proximity to the offender’s home and places they frequent.

What’s the purpose behind community notification?

The goal is to raise awareness so community members can take precautions to protect themselves and their families. Supporters argue it makes the public safer and gives them peace of mind knowing if sex offenders live nearby.
It also helps hold sex offenders accountable—the idea being they’ll be less likely to reoffend if neighbors are watching.

What are some criticisms of Megan’s Law?

While community notification laws are well-intentioned, they’ve faced backlash too. Critics argue:
It violates offenders’ privacy rights and can lead to harassment, assaults, and property damage. In one case, a sex offender’s house was burned down after he was publicly identified.
It causes “stranger danger” fears, when stats show most victims know their abuser. Kids are more at risk from family members than strangers.
It creates a false sense of security. Just because registered offenders’ info is public doesn’t mean there’s no risk from unidentified predators.
The laws are based on flawed assumptions that offenders always reoffend and are impossible to rehabilitate. But recidivism rates vary greatly depending on the offender.
The stigma makes it harder for offenders to reintegrate into society and lead normal lives after serving their sentence. This can increase their risk of reoffending.
Information on registries can be outdated or inaccurate. Offenders sometimes end up getting harassed based on old addresses.

Are there any restrictions on where sex offenders can live?

Yes, New Jersey does limit where certain high-risk sex offenders can reside after their release from jail or prison.
Convicted child molesters cannot live within 1,000 feet of any school, daycare, park, playground, or youth center. Municipalities can implement even stricter local ordinances restricting sex offenders.
But for most offenders, there are no statewide restrictions on where they can live after completing their sentence. The community notification law focuses more on informing the public than restricting housing.

How long do offenders stay on the registry?

Offenders must register for a minimum of 15 years. But many remain on the registry for life.
Tiers and registration periods are:
Tier 1 (low risk): 15 years
Tier 2 (moderate risk): 25 years
Tier 3 (high risk): Life
Offenders can petition to be removed after 15 years if they have a clean record. But very few are ever taken off the registry.

Has Megan’s Law been effective?

There’s no clear consensus on whether Megan’s Law has reduced sex crimes. One study found juvenile sex crimes decreased by 13% in states after community notification laws were passed.
But other researchers argue declines in sex offenses are part of broader trends and not necessarily due to Megan’s Law specifically.
Most experts agree community notification shouldn’t be relied on as the sole strategy to prevent sexual violence. More focus is needed on rehabilitation and promoting healthy relationships.

Conclusion

New Jersey’s sex offender community notification law aims to raise public awareness and safety. But it’s also created controversy regarding offenders’ rights and unintended consequences.
There are valid arguments on both sides. Overall, the law seems to fill an important role when applied fairly and accurately. But it likely needs reform to prevent misuse of the information against reformed ex-offenders.
Community notification works best when paired with comprehensive prevention and rehabilitation efforts. With balanced policies, New Jersey can help protect the public while still giving offenders a chance at a new life after serving their time.