Megan's Law
On October 31, 1994, former Governor Christine Todd Whitman signed legislation mandating the registration of certain sex offenders and requiring community notification in appropriate circumstances. These laws are commonly referred to as Megan’s Law.
The Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office has a unit devoted specifically to the tracking and registering of sex offenders. Registration - The laws place significant responsibility upon the County Prosecutor. The prosecutor must cooperate with various state agencies in locating, registering, and researching the criminal and social history of sex offenders. Registration involves photographing, fingerprinting, and assembling personal information on sex offenders.
Community Notification - In addition to the registration requirements of Megan’s Law, the prosecutor must assess each registrant’s potential to re-offend. The prosecutor must assign the registrant to either TIER I (low risk), TIER II (moderate risk), or TIER III (high risk), using a tool called the Registrant Risk Assessment Scale (RRAS). Registrants may object to their status as TIER II or TIER III and are entitled to a court hearing. After the registrant’s risk level is assessed and, if required, upheld by the court, the community is notified as follows:
| TIER | RISK LEVEL | WHO IS NOTIFIED |
|---|---|---|
| I | Low risk to re-offend | Police in the towns in which the registrant lives, works and/or goes to school |
| II | Medium risk to re-offend | Police in the towns in which the registrant lives, works and/or goes to school; Schools and registered community groups who are charged with the care of children and women in a designated area around where the registrant lives, works and/or goes to school |
| III | High risk to re-offend | Police in the towns in which the registrant lives, works and/or goes to school; Schools and registered community groups who are charged with the care of children and women in a designated area around where the registrant lives, works and/or goes to school; A designated area around where the registrant lives, works and/or goes to school. |