TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator John A. Girgenti to prohibit convicted sexual predators from working at youth organizations was approved by the full Senate today.
“In recent years too many children have fallen victim to the harmful attacks of sexual predators,” said Senator Girgenti, D-Bergen and Passaic and Chairman of the Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Megan’s Law has helped make New Jersey residents feel safer by knowing where sex offenders live, but we must do more to ensure that we protect our children in every way possible. There is no reason for a sex offender to be near children, and this measure will make sexual predators think twice before trying to surround themselves with minors.”
Senator Girgenti’s bill, S 639, would make it illegal for a sex offender to work in either a paid or unpaid capacity at a youth organization. A violator would be guilty of a third degree crime, which carries a penalty of three to five years in prison, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.
“As long as sex crimes continue to occur, we need to create stronger laws to keep known sexual predators away from our children,” said Senator Girgenti. “My bill will increase the protection of our children, and keep sex offenders from being involved in any way with youth groups.”
The measure now heads to the Assembly for consideration.