New Jersey Senate Passes Bill Restricting Where Prior Sex Offenders Can Live
A new bill that would restrict where registered sex offenders may live has passed in the New Jersey Senate. According to The Times Statehouse Bureau, Senate Bill S837 passed unanimously on April 28, 2011. The bill will allow New Jersey towns to set up 500-foot buffer zones around playgrounds, schools, and daycare centers. These new restrictions would affect all convicted sex offenders, including juveniles. It is unclear what will happen to individuals already living in these buffer zones. It is also unclear if it is unconstitutional to restrict a sex offender’s housing options after they have already served a sentence.
Megan’s Law forces convicted sex offenders in New Jersey to annually register with local law enforcement agencies. Since 2001, this registry has been online. The online registry allows people to view who in their area may have been convicted of a sex crime, where they live, and what crimes they committed. New Jersey Statute 2C:7-2 lists a number of sex crimes that may result in required registration as a sex offender in New Jersey. This list includes predatory acts against children, aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated criminal sexual contact. In some cases, a conviction of attempting one of these crimes may be enough to result in registration as a sex offender.
Sex offender registration has long-term social and professional consequences. Restricting where someone can live is just one more possible penalty that a convicted sex offender will face. Anyone charged with a sex crime in New Jersey would be well advised to seek legal guidance from an experienced criminal defense lawyer.
The Princeton sex crime defense attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein fight to protect the future of our clients who have been charged with a sex crime. We offer free consultations to anyone facing sex crime charges in New Jersey at 609-240-0040. The stakes are high in sex crime cases. Call us today to find out how we can help.
