New Jersey Reviewer's Comments

New Jersey classifies their sex offenders by risk of re-offense: low, moderate or high. The site includes both moderate (Tier II) and high (Tier III) offenders as established by the state of New Jersey. This site offers more search options than any other state, and is the only state to include a vehicle search. New Jersey has built an excellent site, but it could be better. Add an interactive map and electronic identity search to secure a top ten ranking. 

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Information Provided:  

Profiles have a complete physical description. Age is displayed with the date of birth. Assigned risk level is included as well. Offense information is more detailed than most states. It has the name, place and date of the offense, the victim’s sex and whether he or she is an adult or child, and significant event details. For example, one description said, “Offender engaged in non–forced sexual relations with several teenaged females after befriending them via a telephone chat–line.”

What’s missing in the profiles? Work and school addresses and vehicle information, seemingly inconsistent with the vehicle search feature.

Search Functions:  

The registry has four search types:

1. Geographic: Search by county, zip code, locality or street name.
2. Individual: Search by name and date of birth.
3. Advanced: Combines county or locality with name and/or physical characteristics.
4. Vehicle: Match a vehicle by at least two consecutive license plate characters; this is unique to New Jersey’s registry and may set a precedent for other states to follow. 

Additional Site Features:  

The New Jersey Sex Offender Registry has some legal definitions of sex crimes and a section on personal safety. Here you’ll find tips on how to protect your children, how to create a safe neighborhood and more. 

Ease of Use:  

The navigation bar is easy to use and comprehensive. This is one of the few sites with so many sections devoted to the user—about sex offenders, guidelines, contacts, FAQs, and questions/comments. The search options are well organized, but the results list would benefit by the addition of photographs. It is helpful to include the total number of names including aliases versus the number of offenders, and the search criteria you entered. 

Contact Information:  

Contact the office of the attorney general by phone or email. 

Summary:  

New Jersey’s Sex Offender Internet Registry offers more ways to search than any other state including searches by physical features and by vehicle. It also provides essential information in the profiles: assigned risk category and offense details. With this well-designed site, it is astonishing to see New Jersey omit an interactive map.