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 victims be notified when a sex offender applies to terminate their registration obligation, allowing them the opportunity to attend the hearing and express their views. If the court grants the application, victims must also be informed of the termination. This provision aims to ensure that victims are kept informed and can participate in decisions that affect their safety.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing laws regarding restraining orders by requiring courts to issue orders prohibiting contact with the victim when a defendant charged with a sex offense is released on bail, provided the victim consents. At sentencing, courts must either continue existing restrictions or impose new ones based on the victim's agreement. These restrictions will remain in effect until the court decides to modify or terminate them, which cannot happen without the victim's consent. The bill applies to all existing orders at the time of its enactment, ensuring ongoing protection for victims and emphasizing the importance of their consent in any changes to contact restrictions.

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