Prohibits sex offenders from residing within 1,000 feet of victim's home or workplace.
Summary
Assembly Bill 811 would make it a fourth-degree crime for a person required to register under New Jersey’s sex offender registration law, and who has been convicted of a sex offense, to live within 1,000 feet of the victim’s home or workplace. The bill is framed as an addition to Megan’s Law and is intended to address what the sponsor describes as a loophole in current law, which does not expressly bar a sex offender from residing near the victim.
The bill includes three exceptions. The restriction would not apply if the offender is housed in a jail, prison, juvenile facility, or other correctional institution located within the prohibited area; if the offender is receiving treatment at a mental health facility in that area; or if the offender already established the residence before the bill’s effective date. The bill would take effect on the first day of the fourth month after enactment.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would supplement New Jersey’s sex offender registration framework by creating a new offense tied specifically to residential proximity to a victim’s home or workplace. It would expose covered offenders to fourth-degree criminal penalties, including up to 18 months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, and would likely affect housing decisions, probation/parole supervision, and enforcement by prosecutors and law enforcement. The bill would not change registration requirements themselves, but would add a new location-based restriction and criminal penalty within the existing Megan’s Law statutory scheme.
Sentiment
The available materials suggest the bill is strongly punitive and protective in tone, with the sponsor presenting it as a victim-safety measure meant to close a gap in current law. No committee testimony, votes, or recorded opposition are provided, so there is no documented legislative debate in the supplied record. Based on the text alone, the bill appears to be designed to appeal to public safety concerns and to align New Jersey with other states that have adopted similar restrictions.
Contention
The main policy issue is whether New Jersey should impose a categorical residential buffer around a victim’s home or workplace for registered sex offenders. Supporters are likely to emphasize victim protection and the need to prevent unwanted contact, while potential critics could argue that the measure may be difficult to enforce, could create housing instability, and may raise fairness concerns when the victim and offender live or work in dense urban areas. The bill’s exceptions for incarceration, treatment facilities, and preexisting residences suggest an attempt to limit unintended consequences, but those carveouts may also become points of debate if the bill advances.