NJ legislators seek standard for sex offender limitations

After courts have struck down local laws, New Jersey legislators want to establish a statewide standard for municipalities that want to limit where registered sex offenders can live.

After courts have struck down local laws, New Jersey legislators want to establish a statewide standard for municipalities that want to limit where registered sex offenders can live.

Megan’s Law requires sex offenders who are released from custody to register with police. Legislation sponsored by Senator Fred Madden would allow towns to prevent those offenders from living within 500 feet of a school, playground or child care center.
Madden says over a hundred towns have tried on their own to set such limits, but the state Supreme Court struck down those municipal ordinances.

“They’ve mentioned that it was not the Legislative intent when the original Megan’s law came in, and the responsibility was seen as being held by the Legislature on where these parameters should be set. That’s just what this bill will make an attempt to do.”

The legislation would also restrict building a bus stop or child care center too close to a sex offender’s residence. The measure has cleared the Senate’s Law and Public safety committee and goes to the full Senate for consideration.