New Jersey is the latest state to consider a law forcing sex offenders to identify themselves on social networking sites like Facebook.
The law was proposed Monday by Sen. Christopher “Kip” Bateman and forces offenders to provide their email address, a photo of themselves, info on their crime, and a link to the state’s sex offender registry, NJ.com reported.
“In many ways, sex offenders can use the Internet as a venue and a means to plot and begin to carry out their crimes against vulnerable and unsuspecting victims,” Bateman told NJ.com. “This legislation supplements Megan’s Law to assist law enforcement agencies in stepping up their increasingly successful efforts targeting and fighting Internet sex crimes.”
Megan’s Law is the informal name for laws in the U.S. requiring states to provide public information on sex offenders.
New Jersey’s law is based on a Louisiana statute which requires any registered sex offender to identify him- or herself online. In New Jersey, violators of the new law could face up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Sex offenders are actually banned on Facebook, and the social network’s Help Center provides information on how to report a convicted offender.
New York State currently has a Facebook application that allows you to search offenders by address.
Photo by Bosc d’Anjou