Search New Jersey Sex Offenders
New Jersey keeps a public registry of sex offenders under Megan's Law. The New Jersey State Police run this registry and make it available online. You can search for registered sex offenders by name, zip code, or street address. The registry covers all 21 counties and lists offenders rated as moderate or high risk. Residents of New Jersey can also get information from their local police department about sex offenders living in their area.
New Jersey Sex Offender Registry Quick Facts
New Jersey Megan's Law and Sex Offender Registration
New Jersey passed its sex offender registration law on October 31, 1994. The state calls it Megan's Law. It is named after Megan Kanka, a young girl from New Jersey who was harmed by a convicted sex offender living in her neighborhood. The law created a statewide registry and a system for notifying communities about sex offenders in their area. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:7-2, any person convicted of a sex offense, found not guilty by reason of insanity, or adjudicated delinquent must register with law enforcement. This applies to crimes such as aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, kidnapping of a minor, and endangering the welfare of a child through sexual conduct.
Sex offenders must register at their local police department. They fill out a form and submit fingerprints and photographs. The local police send this data to the county prosecutor and the New Jersey State Police. The Division of State Police keeps the central registry of all sex offender records in New Jersey. They work with county prosecutors to verify and update this data on a regular basis.
Registration lasts for life. All sex offenders in New Jersey must stay on the registry for the rest of their lives. An offender may ask the court to be removed only if they committed one offense, have not reoffended for 15 years, and can prove they pose no threat. Juvenile sex offenders may also apply if they were under 14 at the time of the offense and are now over 18.
Sex Offender Tier System in New Jersey
New Jersey uses a three-tier system to classify sex offenders by risk level. County prosecutors assess each registered sex offender using a risk assessment scale. This scale looks at factors like the type of offense, the age of the victim, the number of offenses, the use of force, response to treatment, and community ties. The score places the offender into one of three tiers. Each tier has different rules for who gets notified and how often the offender must check in.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office explains the scoring system in detail. Offenders who score 36 or below fall into Tier 1. Those who score between 37 and 73 are Tier 2. Scores of 74 to 111 place an offender in Tier 3. The offender has 14 days to review the classification and can challenge it. If they object, a Superior Court judge makes the final decision on the tier and notification scope.
Here is how each tier works in New Jersey:
- Tier 1 (Low Risk): Only law enforcement is notified. The offender verifies their address once a year.
- Tier 2 (Moderate Risk): Law enforcement, schools, day care centers, summer camps, and registered community groups are notified. The offender verifies their address once a year.
- Tier 3 (High Risk): All of the above plus the general public. A law enforcement officer delivers a notice to homes in the area. The offender must verify their address every 90 days.
Note: Tier 2 notification uses a radius of half a mile in urban areas and two miles in suburban areas of New Jersey.
How to Search for Sex Offenders in New Jersey
The NJ State Police Sex Offender Internet Registry is the main tool for looking up sex offenders in New Jersey. The law that created this online database can be found at N.J.S.A. 2C:7-12 to 2C:7-19. You can search from any device at any time. The registry is free to use. It shows Tier 3 sex offenders and most Tier 2 sex offenders. Tier 1 offenders are not listed online because they are low risk.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office provides a helpful page about the Megan's Law FAQ that details what information you can find on the registry. You can search the New Jersey sex offender registry by name, email address, zip code, or street address. The registry also lists sex offenders who are not in compliance with registration rules and those who are currently incarcerated.
Each listing on the New Jersey registry shows the sex offender's name, aliases, address, date of birth, physical description, photograph, vehicle details, offense history, and risk level. This data helps residents identify sex offenders in their communities across New Jersey.
You can also visit the New Jersey Courts website to search for criminal case records related to sex offense convictions. The eCourts system provides access to case information across all 21 counties.
The New Jersey Courts eCourts portal lets you look up case records by party name or docket number. This can help you find court records tied to sex offense cases filed in New Jersey. The system is free for basic case data. It shows party names, filing dates, and case status. For copies of actual court documents, contact the county clerk or visit the courthouse.
New Jersey Sex Offender Community Notification
Community notification is a key part of Megan's Law in New Jersey. When a sex offender moves into an area, the county prosecutor decides who gets told based on the offender's tier. For Tier 3 sex offenders, a police officer or investigator from the county prosecutor's office comes to your door. They deliver a printed notice to an adult in the household. This notice includes the sex offender's name, photo, address, vehicle details, and a short description of their offense.
Schools and day care centers in New Jersey get notified about Tier 2 and Tier 3 sex offenders. For Tier 3, schools can mail the information to parents. For Tier 2, schools cannot share the notice with parents. Community groups that want to receive sex offender notifications must register with their local police department. The Attorney General's community brochure explains this process.
There are strict rules about sharing sex offender notification information in New Jersey. You can discuss it with people in your household. You can share it with anyone caring for your children at your home. You cannot copy or post the notice. You cannot share it with people outside your household. Law enforcement handles all official notification in New Jersey.
Note: Sex offender notification is only given to people already living in the area, not to prospective home buyers in New Jersey.
New Jersey Sex Offender Records and Public Access
The New Jersey State Police maintain the sex offender registry under the direction of the Attorney General's Office. The Attorney General issues guidelines that prosecutors follow when classifying sex offenders. These guidelines, along with the statutes at N.J.S.A. 2C:7-1 et seq., set the rules for registration, notification, and public access to sex offender records in New Jersey.
The Attorney General Guidelines for Sex Offender Registration describe how county prosecutors assess risk and determine notification scope. Each of New Jersey's 21 county prosecutors has a Megan's Law unit that handles sex offender classification. They receive registration forms from local police, enter offenders into the database, and carry out community notification as ordered by the court.
You can also request public records related to sex offenders through the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The NJ OPRA Portal provides access to state department records. The Government Records Council oversees compliance with OPRA and handles complaints about denied requests. Their toll-free hotline is 1-866-850-0511.
The New Jersey State Police registry page provides direct access to search for sex offenders across the state. You can use it to look up offenders by name or location. The site is updated on a regular basis as new court orders are issued and offender information changes.
Sex Offender Registration Laws in New Jersey
Sex offenders in New Jersey must report every change of address. They must notify local police at least 10 days before they move. Failing to register or re-register is a fourth-degree crime under N.J.S.A. 2C:7-2(a). This carries a penalty of up to 18 months in prison. Failing to give 10 days notice before moving is also a fourth-degree crime in New Jersey.
The constitutionality of Megan's Law was upheld by the Supreme Court of New Jersey in Doe v. Poritz, 142 N.J. 1 (1995). The court ruled that the sex offender registration and notification system does not violate the rights of offenders. The ruling also required that offenders receive a judicial review of the prosecutor's tier classification before notification takes place.
New Jersey law prohibits the misuse of sex offender registry information. Using registry data to commit a criminal offense is punishable by three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Using it to commit a disorderly persons offense carries a fine of up to $1,000. Vigilantism against sex offenders is a crime. The law exists to protect the public, not to enable harassment or threats against registered sex offenders in New Jersey.
New Jersey Resources for Sexual Assault Victims
New Jersey provides support for victims of sexual assault through several agencies. The Attorney General's Standards for Providing Services to Victims of Sexual Assault outline 14 protocols that put the victim's needs first. Each county in New Jersey has a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) made up of a law enforcement officer, a forensic nurse, and a confidential advocate. Victims decide which team members they want to help them.
The Division of Child Protection and Permanency handles cases involving children. Their child abuse hotline is 1-877-NJ ABUSE (652-2873) and operates around the clock. The State Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy provides support services across New Jersey and funds county victim programs.
The State Parole Board also provides information about sex offenders who have been paroled. You can contact them by email at SPB-Public-Info-Office@spb.nj.gov to request information about a specific offender. They also accept anonymous tips about parolees or parole absconders in New Jersey.
Note: Contact the Statewide SART Advisory Board at (609) 815-2797 for help connecting with local sexual assault resources in New Jersey.
Browse New Jersey Sex Offenders by County
Each county in New Jersey has a prosecutor's office with a Megan's Law unit that manages sex offender registration and notification. Pick a county below to find local resources about sex offenders in that area.
Sex Offenders in Major New Jersey Cities
Local police departments work with county prosecutors to manage sex offender records. Pick a city below to learn about sex offender resources in that area of New Jersey.