New Jersey to Sex Offenders: No Internet for You!
Does this mean we're going to lose some Orgahs?
New Jersey to sex offenders: No Internet for you
By Nate Anderson | Published: December 28, 2007 - 10:41AM CT
Under a newly-signed New Jersey law, sex offenders in the state can now have computer and Internet access taken away, even if they didn't use the Internet in committing their crimes. According to one of the law's backers, state Senator John Girgenti, the law makes it easier for sex offenders to stay on the straight and narrow, "reducing the risk of them being tempted to be a repeat offender."
Bill S1979 gives the state broad authority to regulate a sex offender's computer and Internet usage so long as the person remains on parole. And the law is tough: anyone who uses a computer to help commit sex crimes will be prohibited from using computers or the Internet at all. The State Parole Board may also impose restrictions at its discretion on offenders even if they did not use computers to plan their crimes.
In addition, the state can force sex offenders to install hardware or software monitoring systems on computer equipment, submit to unannounced searches of any computer equipment, and get written permission before using a computer or the Internet.
"No matter how much you trust your kids, no matter how much you think you know what they're doing, there are some sick people out there that will stop at nothing to prey on them," said Acting Governor Richard Codey (Governor Jon Corzine is on vacation). "This legislation will give us some of the toughest tools in the nation to crack down on the growing threat of Internet predators. Hopefully this law will help a lot of parents sleep easier at night."
But while sex offenders' Internet usage will now be supervised closer than Michael Vick at a dog show, the public can use the Internet to find plenty of information about the offenders. Like many states, New Jersey has slapped its sex offender database online. Concerned parents can look up the names, addresses, date of birth, photos, identifying marks, and crime details for any registered sex offender in the state.
The experience of browsing the database is almost unnervingly voyeuristic, and it obviously has the potential for abuse. "WARNING!" says a statement on every page of results. "Any person who uses the information contained herein to threaten, intimidate or harass another, or who otherwise misuses that information may be subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability." But there is one difference: committing a sex crime using the Internet will result in a loss of Internet access; beating up a sex offender after looking up his information online won't.
Without federal regulations dealing with these issues, the states are going it alone. New Jersey now becomes one of only three states to impose these sorts of Internet restrictions on sex offenders.
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Originally Posted by Lemur
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