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 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 prohibiting 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 restraining orders or impose new ones if the victim agrees, with these restrictions remaining in effect until modified or terminated by a subsequent court order, which cannot occur without the victim's consent. These changes apply to all existing orders at the time the bill takes effect and to any new orders issued thereafter, prioritizing the rights and preferences of victims in managing contact restrictions.

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