Police Departments work together to notify county residents of sex offender's move

Newton - The police department was mandated by the State Supreme Court to notify residents of a newly registered sex offender who recently moved within the town limits. “We were required by the court to do a ‘tier 3’ notification throughout the town,” said Detective Lt. Michael Richards. “To fulfill the requirement, we used the assistance of county-wide law enforcement to carry that out. We’re very vigilant in enforcing the laws involved with Megan’s Law and the monitoring of sex offenders within the town.” According to Megan’s Law, offenders are labeled in tiers one to three, one the least likely to offend again and three the mostly likely to repeat an offence. The New Jersey registry lists three men currently residing within Newton, and two of them are listed as tier three offenders, having been convicted in New Jersey and other states. The other registers as a tier two offender, which means there is a possibility of a repeat offense. All of these men have registered in town within the past three months. Megan’s law stems from two cases that took place in New Jersey, after 7-year-old Megan Kanka, a resident of Hamilton Township, and 6-year-old Amanda Wengert of Manalapan township, were raped and murdered by sex-offenders who moved in their immediate neighborhoods. The state Legislature introduced the law and passed it on Oct. 31, 1994, thus sending it to the U.S. Congress, which amended it in 1996 into the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children Act. The government requires each state to form a registry of sex offenders and notify surrounding residents, businesses, and schools (including day care facilities). Registered sex offenders are prohibited from residing near public places that are frequented by children in addition to schools, such as parks, libraries, and summer camps. N.J. Legislature, Megan’s Law 2C:7-1. Legislative findings and declaration, states: “The danger of recidivism posed by sex offenders and offenders who commit other predatory acts against children, and the dangers posed by persons who prey on others as a result of mental illness, require a system of registration that will permit law enforcement officials to identify and alert the public when necessary for the public safety.” Those who do not register with the local and county police can be convicted of a fourth degree crime within the state. The law has been the subject of controversy regarding victim’s rights versus prisoners who have “paid their debt to society” by serving out their sentence in prison; however, the registry has been implemented nation wide. “If residents have any questions, they are welcome to call the police department,” said Lt. Richards.