This bill mandates that the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), in collaboration with the State Parole Board, conduct a comprehensive study on the implementation and application of Megan's Law. The previous responsibility for this study was held by the Violence Institute of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, but the bill amends current law to transfer this duty to the AOC and State Parole Board. The study will focus on the registration of sex offenders and community notification processes, evaluating the procedures used by county prosecutors and courts in determining tier designations for sex offenders.

Additionally, the study will assess the effectiveness of the Internet registry in informing the public about sex offenders and whether it has achieved its intended purpose. It will also explore the need for a central agency to oversee the administration of Megan's Law and the criteria for offenders' inclusion on the Internet registry. The AOC and State Parole Board are required to submit a report of their findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 12 months of the bill's enactment and biannually thereafter.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:7-21