Registration of Sex Offender (Megan's Law)

A. A person who has been convicted, adjudicated delinquent or found not guilty by reason of insanity for commission of a sex offense as defined in subsection B of this section shall register as provided in subsections C and D of this section. A person who fails to register as required under this act shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
B. For the purposes of this act a sex offense shall include the following:

(1) Aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, kidnapping pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection C of N.J.S. 2C:13-1 or an attempt to commit any of these crimes if the court found that the offender's conduct was characterized by a pattern of repetitive, compulsive behavior regardless of the date of the commission of the offense or the date of conviction;

(2) A conviction, adjudication of delinquency, or acquittal by reason of insanity for aggravated sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual contact; kidnapping pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection C of N.J.S. 2C:13-1; endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child pursuant to subsection A of NJS 2C:24-4; endangering the welfare of a child pursuant to paragraph (4) of subsection B of N.J.S. 2C:24-4; luring or enticing pursuant to section 1 of P.L. 1993, c.291 (C.2C:13-6); criminal sexual contact pursuant to N.J.S. 2C:14-3b if the victim is a minor; kidnapping pursuant to N.J.S. 2C:13-1, criminal restraint pursuant to N.J.S. 2C:13-2, or false imprisonment pursuant to N.J.S. 2C:13-3 if the victim is a minor and the offender is not a parent of the victim; or an attempt to commit any of these enumerated offenses if the conviction, adjudication of delinquency or acquittal by reason of insanity is entered on or after the effective date of this act or the offender is serving a sentence of incarceration, probation, parole or other form of community supervision as a result of the offense or is confined following acquittal by reason of insanity or as a result of civil committment on the effective date of this act;

(3) A conviction, adjudication of delinquency or acquittal by reason of insanity for an offense similar to any offense enumerated in paragraph (2) or a sentence on the basis of criteria set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection entered or imposed under the laws of the United States, this State or another state.

C. A person required to register under the provisions of this act shall do so on forms to be providedby the designated registering agency as follows:

(1) A person who is required to register and who is under supervision in the community on probation, parole, furlough, work release, or a similar program, shall register at the time the person is placed under supervision or no later than 120 days after the effective date of this act, whichever is later, in accordance with procedures established by the Department of Corrections, the Department of Human Services, the Juvenile Justice Commission established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 1995, c.284 (C.52:17B-170) or the Administrative Office of the Courts, whichever is responsible for supervision;

(2) A person confined in a correctional or juvenile facility or involuntarily committed who is required to register shall register prior to release in accordance with procedures established by the Department of Corrections, the Department of Human Services or the Juvenile Justice Commission;

(3) A person moving to or returning to this State from another jurisdiction shall register with the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the person will reside or, if the municipality does not have a local police force, the Superintendant of State Police within 120 days of the effective date of this act or 70 days of first residing in or returning to a municipality in this State, whichever is later;

(4) A person required to register on the basis of a conviction prior to the effective date who is not confined or under supervision on the effective date of this act shall register within 120 days of the effective date of this act with the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the person will reside or, if the municipality does not have a local police force, the Superintendant of State Police.

D. Upon a change of address, a person shall notify the law enforcement agency with which the person is registered and must re-register with the appropriate law enforcement agency no less than 10 days before he intends to first reside at his new address.

E. A person required to register under paragraph (1) of subsection B of this section or under paragraph (3) of subsection B, due to a sentence imposed on the basis of criteria similar to the criteria set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection B shall verify his address with the appropriate law enforcement agency every 90 days in a manner prescribed the Attorney General. A person required to register under paragraph (2) of subsection B of this section or under paragraph (3) of subsection B on the basis of a conviction for an offense similar to an offense enumerated in paragraph (2) of subsection B shall verify his address annually in a manner prescribed by the Attorney General. One year after the effective date of this act, the Attorney General shall review, evaluate and, if warranted, modify pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L. 1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) the verification requirement.

F. A person required to register under this act may make application to the Superior Court of this State to terminate the obligation upon proof that the person has not committed an offense within 15 years following conviction or release from a correctional facility for any term of imprisonment imposed, whichever is later, and is not likely to pose a threat to the safety of others.

L.1994, c.133, s.2; amended 1995, c.280, s.18.