Megan’s Law Attorney in Bergen County
Assemblyman Paul Kramer was the sponsor in the New Jersey General Assembly of a package of seven bills that came to be known as “Megan’s Law”. Megan’s Law was enacted in New Jersey in 1994, approximately one month after the rape and murder of a seven-year-old named Megan Kanka in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Megan was murdered and raped by Jesse Timmendequas, a neighbor of Megan’s who had previously been convicted of several sex crimes involving children. Timmendequas lured Megan into his house by promising to show her his new puppy.
After the enactment of New Jersey’s Megan’s Law, the federal government and many other states followed suit by enacting their own versions of Megan’s Law.
What Is Megan’s Law?
Megan’s Law is the name for the complex of New Jersey laws requiring law enforcement to make information available to the public regarding certain sex offenders. Megan’s Law generally provides two informational services to the public, sex offender registry and community notification.
In New Jersey, a person who has been convicted, adjudicated delinquent (a juvenile), or found not guilty by reason of insanity for the commission of a “sex offense” must register as a sex offender. The bulk of laws known as Megan’s Law in New Jersey can be found at N.J.S.A. 2C:7-1, et seq.
What Is a “Sex Offense” in New Jersey?
Under New Jersey law, a “sex offense” triggering Megan’s Law includes aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, certain kinds of kidnapping, or the attempt to commit any of these crimes.
If the victim was a minor, a “sex offense” includes the above crimes, as well as endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of a child as well as other types of endangering the welfare of a child crimes, luring or enticing, criminal sexual contact, certain kidnapping crimes, criminal restraint under certain circumstances, false imprisonment if the victim is a minor and the offender is not the parent of the victim; knowingly promoting prostitution of a child under certain circumstances or the attempt to commit any of the above crimes.
Experienced Megan’s Law Defense Lawyer
The above is merely a simplified overview of Megan’s Law under New Jersey law. This brief outline of Megan’s Law should not be used as a guideline for sexual offenses under New Jersey law, nor should it be considered an exhaustive analysis of Megan’s Law under New Jersey law. If you have been charged with a sex crime in New Jersey or you are being investigated for a sex crime, and you need a strong criminal defense, Law Offices of Joseph R. Donahue, LLC can help.
Call us at (201) 488-7707 or reach out online to schedule a consultation.
