Steve Sweeney

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and Fred H. Madden that would require high risk sex offenders to wear GPS tracking devices was approved today by the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee.

“We have a responsibility to keep our children safe,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “National statistics have shown that 40% of sex offenders who re-offend do so within one year of their release. When sexual predators prey on innocent victims, it becomes a matter of public safety. By requiring convicted sex offenders to wear GPS tracking devices, we would be working to help prevent further attacks against members of the community.”

TRENTON – Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and Fred H. Madden today met with Governor Richard J. Codey, Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and other legislators to discuss a bill they are sponsoring that would create a pilot program for the satellite-based tracking of high risk sex offenders.

“According to the U.S. Department of Justice, sex offenders are four times more likely than non-sex offenders to be arrested for another sex crime after being released from prison,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. ” We cannot allow other situations like those of Megan Kanka and Jessica Lunsford to occur – we must do all we can to protect the public from the monsters who prey on innocent, unsuspecting victims.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and Fred H. Madden that would upgrade penalties for criminal trespassing from a disorderly persons offense to a fourth degree crime was approved today by the Senate.

“This measure would help provide additional protection for the State’s chemical plants and other public utilities,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “In the event of a terrorist attack, damage done to ‘soft targets’ could result in huge numbers of lives being lost. By upgrading the penalties for criminal trespassing, we would be sending a clear message to would-be terrorists that we will take the necessary precautions to protect the citizens of New Jersey.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and Fred H. Madden that would upgrade current penalties for criminal trespassing from a disorderly persons offense to a 4th degree crime was approved today by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“This measure would help protect the health and safety of millions of New Jerseyans by working to defend the State’s public utilities and chemical facilities,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “By increasing the penalties for criminal trespassing, we would be sending a clear message to would-be terrorists that tampering with the residents of New Jersey and any State-owned property would result in serious consequences.”

TRENTON – Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and Fred H. Madden have introduced a measure that would establish a pilot program for the continuous, satellite-based monitoring of high risk sex offenders.

“According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 40% of sex offenders who re-offend after incarceration do so within one year of their release,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “This measure is absolutely necessary, and the State must fight to help protect the public from these dangerous predators.”