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 express their views. If the court grants the application, the victim must also be informed of the termination of the offender's registration status. This provision aims to ensure that victims are kept informed and can participate in decisions that affect their safety.

Furthermore, the bill modifies existing laws regarding 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 contact restrictions or impose new ones if the victim agrees, with these restrictions remaining in effect until modified or terminated by the court, which cannot occur without the victim's consent. These changes apply to all existing orders as of the bill's effective date and any new orders issued thereafter, thereby providing victims with a greater voice in the management of their safety throughout the legal proceedings.

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