New Jersey Criminal Records for Sex Offenders

The state government has ensured that New Jersey criminal records for sex offenders are not only made available to the public, but also that active measures are taken to ensure that residents are aware of their presence in the community. This includes comprehensive data across all levels of offense. Law enforcement officers are also sent to each household to notify residents of the presence of Level-3 Sex Offenders.

New Jersey criminal records have become especially comprehensive when involving sex offenders after the passage of Megan's Law. The federal law was named after NJ resident Megan Kanka who was victimized and murdered in 1994 by a sex offender with two prior convictions. Megan was age 7 – and her murderer lived just across the street. Megan's Law generates New Jersey criminal records in the form of a registry.

Under Megan's Law, all sex offenders who were either serving a sentence or were convicted after October 31, 1994 must register. If the court has classified the felon as a repeat or compulsive offender, he or she must register regardless of conviction date.

Law enforcement agencies in 50 states are then required to notify parents and schools about their presence in the area.

NJ Criminal Records: What Data Can You Get? How Can You Stay Informed?

If you use a sex offender registry in NJ, you will be able to turn up more data than you probably would in other states. For one thing, while other states only provide comprehensive notification on Level-3 Sex Offenders, NJ provides the following data, regardless of level.

· Name of Offender
· Description
· Latest Photo (available to police authorities)
· Home and Work Address
· School Address (if applicable)
· Description and License Number of Offender's Vehicle
· Description of Offense

The NJ State Police keeps the registry updated. In NJ, although data is the same on all levels, the notification process differs as follows.

· Level 1 (Low Risk) – all police agencies are alerted
· Level 2 (Moderate Risk) – the police, schools/day care (licensed), community groups (registered), and summer camps are alerted of sex offenders likely to be encountered in the area
· Level 3 (High Risk) – in addition to all of the above, measures are taken to alert the general public

Measures taken by police agencies in NJ include having an officer, state trooper, or prosecutor's office investigator visit your home to deliver the notice to an adult resident.

For other New Jersey criminal records – say, for dismissed or pending cases or litigation – the court electronic records are accessible online for a minimal fee.

Useful New Jersey Criminal Records Links:

Sex Offender Registry
General Offender Search, Escapees, etc.
Court Electronic Records

---

New Jersey criminal records can be very powerful tools of information. So if you ever want to conduct a criminal check on someone, do so in the most time-efficient and hassle-free way; check out our unbiased reviews of today's leading online criminal records search service providers!