McHose Sex Offender Tracking Program Bill Becomes Law

Legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose which establishes a permanent sex offender monitoring program has been signed into law by Governor Jon Corzine.

The bill, S-484/A-1716, makes permanent the provisions established in a two-year pilot program for continuous, satellite-based monitoring of high risk sex offenders of which McHose was a primary sponsor.

“Monitoring all of the justice system’s high risk sex offenders using GPS (global positioning system) technology is an efficient and reliable way of making sure these predators do not violate their parole or Megan’s Law requirements,” explained McHose.

“Sexual crimes against children are despicable and it is incumbent upon us as legislators to use every possible means to protect our children,” continued McHose. “This law should not only give some level of comfort to parents and guardians, but it serves notice to sex offenders everywhere that New Jersey will not tolerate repeated deviant sexual criminal behavior, especially against our children.”

Following the launch of the pilot program in 2005, law enforcement officials arrested a repeat sex offender who wasn’t living where he claimed based on GPS tracking reports. The arrest was made in McHose’s 24th legislative district.

“That arrest during the pilot program was concrete proof that this program works. I am happy to report it is now law,” said McHose, R-Sussex, Hunterdon and Morris. It’s a well known fact that offenders who commit serious and violent sex crimes have high recidivism rates. Studies show they are four to five times more likely to commit a new sex offense than those without such prior convictions which poses an unacceptable level of risk to our communities. Intensive supervision of such offenders, as prescribed in this new law, is crucial to the safety of our children and communities.”                                                      ####