New Jersey Sex Offender Registration Requirements

According to the laws of New Jersey, the State Police are responsible for maintaining the state's sex offender registry and also for providing the information in the registry to the general public. The State Police makes this information available through its public website. The laws regarding New Jersey sex offenders and the sex offender registry are available in New Jersey Code 2C-7-12 to 2C-7-19. The New Jersey State Police offers this information available to the general public so that they can be aware of the status and locations of sex offenders to better protect their families. However, using sex offender information to threaten, harass, or discriminate against them is a crime that is punishable by a jail term of up to five years and a fine of up to $15,000.

The New Jersey sex offender registry does not disclose information about all sex offenders to the general public through the website. Upon the offender's release from prison, the sentencing court in New Jersey conducts a hearing to determine the level of threat that the offender poses to the community and the chances that he or she will repeat the crime. Based on information such as the disposition of the offender, the nature of the crime committed, the criminal history of the sex offender, the age of the victim, the relation that the offender shares with the victim, and the offender's response to community support and treatment, the court assigns a risk level to him or her.

The risk levels include Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3. Tier 3 is reserved for those sex offenders who are considered to pose the most risk to the community as they are highly likely to offend again. Tier 2 implies a moderate risk, while Tier 1 implies a relatively low risk factor. The public website of the State Police and the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice only discloses information about Tier 3 sex offenders and certain details about some Tier 2 sex offenders. Information on Tier 1 sex offenders living in New Jersey is not made available to the general public. However, law enforcement agencies have access to information on all three tiers. For information on sex offender registration, community notices, and the evaluation of sex offenders in New Jersey, visit the Division of Criminal Justice’s website at http://www.state.nj.us/lps/dcj/megan.

Sex Offenders Who Are Required to Register

In accordance with Megan's Law, which went into effect in 1994, individuals who have been found guilty of any registering sexual offenses must be registered with the state. Sex offenders who were imprisoned when Megan’s Law went into effect must also be registered. New Jersey law also makes it mandatory for compulsive and repetitive sex offenders to register themselves regardless of when they were convicted. Juvenile sex offenders are required to register as well. The state laws of New Jersey require individuals who were convicted of sexual crimes in another state, and who are moving to New Jersey, to register within ten days of arriving. Sex offenders who work or attend school in the state must also register.

In addition to registering, sex offenders must also notify the local law enforcement agencies ten days in advance before moving to a new address. While certain offenders must verify their addresses on a yearly basis, others must verify every 90 days. The local police departments of New Jersey monitor these change of address notifications regularly. Non-compliance with registration laws is a crime, and sex offenders who fail to register under Megan’s Law can be arrested for a fourth degree offense.

The sexual crimes that require registration under New Jersey law are sexual assault, provoked sexual assault, any sexual contact which is criminal in nature or if the victim of that sexual contact is a minor, coercing a child into acts of pornography or into prostitution, indulging in sexual activities in front of a minor that might affect his or her morality, restraining a child against his or her will, and kidnapping a child.
 

Duration of the Registration

According to the laws of New Jersey, sex offenders are required to register for life. However, a sex offender can file a petition with the sentencing court to remove his or her name from the offender registry provided that the individual has only committed one offense, or has not recommitted a sexual offense in 15 years and can provide sufficient proof that he or she is not likely to be of any danger to the community in the future. A juvenile offender is allowed to apply for a removal from the registry if the crime was committed when the minor was under 14 years of age but is now 18 years of age or older.

For information on New Jersey sex offenders or to suggest a change in the information contained in the registry, or to report an offender who is not registered, you can contact the New Jersey Division of State Police by vising their website at http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/info/reg_http://www.peoplepublicrecords.org/sexoffend.html, by calling them at 609-882-2000, or through mail at:

The Division of State Police
Identification & Information Technology Section
P.O. Box 7068
West Trenton, New Jersey 08628