This bill establishes a domestic violence Internet registry that will be publicly accessible, allowing individuals to view records of those convicted of domestic violence-related crimes. The registry will include detailed information about the offenders, such as their names, aliases, conviction details, physical descriptions, photographs, vehicle information, and last known addresses. Individuals listed in the registry can petition for their names to be removed after specified periods—two years for a first offense, seven years for a second, and twenty years for a third or subsequent offense—provided they have not committed further domestic violence-related offenses during that time. However, those convicted of serious crimes like domestic violence-related homicide or sexual assault will not be eligible for removal.

Additionally, the bill mandates that courts require offenders to undergo professional domestic violence counseling and perform community service, with specific durations based on the number of offenses. It also increases the civil penalties for domestic violence offenders, setting fines at $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $5,000 for a third or subsequent offense. The bill includes a provision that protects individuals from liability for failing to investigate or disclose information from the registry. The legislation is set to take effect 90 days after its enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:25-29.1