ASSEMBLY, No. 1561

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 15, 1996

By Assemblywoman TURNER

An Act requiring public notification upon the release of a sex offender and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. a. Ten days prior to the release of an inmate who has served the sentence imposed for aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact or criminal sexual contact in a State correctional institution, the superintendent of the institution from which the inmate is to be released shall provide notice of the inmate's release to the mayor, clerk, members of the governing body, chief law enforcement officer and the principals of all public and nonpublic schools of the municipality wherein that inmate intends to reside. Those persons, in their discretion, shall notify other interested parties and organizations. The superintendent also shall notify all residents within 1,000 square feet of where the inmate will reside. The clerk of the municipality shall provide to the superintendent the names and addresses of all the residents within that area. If the inmate will reside outside the State, the superintendent of the institution shall notify the Superintendent of State Police.

    b. The Commissioner of Corrections shall promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to achieve the purposes of this section.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill requires the Department of Corrections to notify certain government officials and residents of the community when a sex offender is to be released.

    Ten days prior to the release of an inmate convicted of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact or criminal sexual contact, the superintendent of the institution from which the inmate is to be released would provide notice to the mayor, clerk, members of the governing body, chief law enforcement officer and the principals of all public and nonpublic schools of the municipality where the inmate will reside. Those persons, in their discretion, would notify other interested parties and organizations.

    The superintendent also would be required to notify all residents within 1,000 square feet of where the inmate will reside. The clerk of the municipality would be required to provide the superintendent with the names and addresses of all the residents within that area. If the inmate will reside outside the State, the superintendent would notify the Superintendent of the State Police.

Requires notification of certain officials and public when sex offender is released from prison.