Cracking Down on Sex Offenders and Protecting our Children
Posted October 23, 2009

We have good news to report! This week, Governor Corzine signed into law legislation that safeguards our children by preventing convicted sex offenders from holding positions in youth serving organizations.

The bill, A1731/S532, was sponsored in the State Assembly by the late Eric Munoz and by Assemblymen Joseph Vas (D-Middlesex) and Albert Coutinho (D-Essex and Union). In the State Senate, Senators John Girgenti (D-Bergen and Passaic) and Anthony Bucco (R-Morris) were primary sponsors.

The bill makes it "unlawful" for an "excluded sex offender" - meaning "a person who has been convicted, adjudicated delinquent or found not guilty by reason of insanity for the commission of a sex offense . which involves a victim under 18 years of age" - "to hold a position or otherwise participate, in a paid or unpaid capacity, in a youth serving organization."

By "youth serving organization" is meant "a sports team, league, athletic association or any other corporation, association or organization, excluding public and nonpublic schools, which provides recreational, educational, cultural, social, charitable or other activities or services to persons under 18 years of age."

The legislation sets violation of the law as a third degree crime.

Additionally, beyond holding convicted sex offenders accountable, the law also holds accountable anyone "who knowingly hires, engages or appoints an excluded sex offender to serve in a youth serving organization."  And anyone who violates this provision is guilty of a fourth degree crime.

By way of exceptions to the rule, the bill provides an exception for sex offenders who are "under Parole Board supervision" if "the Parole Board has given express written permission for the sex offender to hold a position or otherwise participate in that particular youth serving organization." Additionally, the law doesn't apply to convicted sex offenders under the age of 18 who are taking part in an organization that "provides rehabilitative or other services to juvenile sex offenders."

Those guilty of sex crimes against minors have no place working with or around children, and this legislation will help protect our children by ensuring convicted sex offenders do not gain access to our kids through backdoor means such as charitable service and community volunteering.

We applaud the legislators who introduce and fought for this bill, and we applaud Governor Corzine for signing it.

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