Opinion: Require N.J. sex offenders to identify criminal history on social media sites

Clearly this is hate legislation and not based on public safety. Note highlighted portion below where the stats are misconstrued and released non sex offenders are shown to be of a higher danger to the public than released sex offenders. There is no logical reason to require ONLY sex offenders to comply when non sex offenders present a higher danger to the community; a equal protection issue.

1-10-2014 New Jersey:

On Nov. 26, a state appellate court upheld limited access to the internet for convicted sex offenders who are on parole, by allowing authorities to prohibit sex offenders from using online social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Although the New Jersey Appellate Court and Supreme Court acknowledge the relatively high recidivism rate of sex offenders, and there are state statute and parole board rules that address internet access for certain sex offenders, many are still allowed to use the very same social networks that are being popularized by more and more of our children and teens.

More than ever, in this increasingly digitized society, we must do everything to protect our children from predators who can use social media networks to easily and anonymously target unsuspecting victims.

Legislation I introduced in July 2012, would establish statutory protection for families and children to know the sex offenders who are using social media websites.

Senate bill 2142 would require anyone who must register as a sex offender to also identify the criminal status on his or her online social network profiles.

Modeled after a recently enacted Louisiana law, S2142 requires sex offenders to also identify in their social network profiles the crimes for which they were convicted; the jurisdiction of convictions; a description of their physical appearance; their residential address and a link to their official sex offender listing on the internet registry. Sex offenders would also have to provide law enforcement with a list of e-mail addresses, screen names and other identities they use for internet chats, messaging and social networking sites. Those caught violating the law face up to 18 months in jail and fines of up to $10,000.

I understand that certain social media networks ask users to agree to terms and conditions, which may try to ban sex offenders from maintaining profiles on their sites. But can we trust that all people who have committed heinous sex acts against children will follow a website’s rule?

Clearly, the answer is “no.”

Between 2000 and 2006, there was a 21 percent increase in arrests of offenders who solicited youth online for sex, according to a 2009 study by the University of New Hampshire’s Crimes Against Children Research Center.

Talk about slight-of-hand handling of statistics: The study mentioned DOES NOT say the increase in online sex crimes was by FORMER SEX OFFENDERS. If you look at the next comment below you will see that non sex offenders released committed 6 new sex crimes to every one by former sex offenders. Who is more dangerous to the community?

According to a 2003 U.S. Department of Justice report, sex offenders released from state prisons were four times more likely to be rearrested for a sex crime. Within the first three years following their release from prison in 1994, 5.3 percent of released sex offenders were rearrested for a sex crime. The rate for released non-sex offenders was 1.3 percent. In considering all types of criminal offenses, this report states that 43 percent of the sex offenders were rearrested for committing a crime.

While 1.3% appears to be less than 5.3%, the statistic fails to point out that, actual numbers show non sex offenders commit 6 sex crimes to every one by a sex offender. See analysis HERE and that is ONLY for sex offenses, what about other crimes by non sex offenders?

Unfortunately, the risk of another sex offense doesn’t disappear with parole supervision. It’s time for the Legislature to enact additional protections to better help authorities to prevent internet sex crimes and to give families information they need to protect themselves in online communities. I urge Senate Democrats, who control which legislation is voted on, to start this process by finally posting S2142 for a vote. ..Source.. by Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-Somerville) is Deputy Republican Conference Leader and represents the 16th District in the New Jersey Senate. He is a member of the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee and the primary sponsor of S2142.