The Sex Offense Victims Rights Expansion Act seeks to strengthen the rights of victims of sex offenses by enhancing their involvement in the judicial process. The bill mandates that when a sex offender applies to terminate their registration obligation, the court must notify the victim and allow them to attend the hearing to voice their opinions. If the court approves the termination, the victim must also be informed of this change. This provision aims to ensure that victims are kept informed about significant developments regarding the offender's status.

Furthermore, the bill modifies existing laws concerning restraining orders by requiring courts to issue orders that prohibit contact between the defendant and the victim upon the defendant's release, contingent on the victim's consent. At sentencing, courts must either continue existing restrictions or impose new ones if the victim agrees, with these orders remaining in effect until modified or terminated by the court, and only with the victim's consent. This approach ensures that victims maintain a consistent level of protection and control over their interactions with defendants throughout the legal proceedings.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:7-2, 2C:14-12, 2C:44-8