Halloween a good time to check Megan's Law website

With Halloween and trick-or-treating just around the corner, Ocean County Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari is encouraging parents to avoid a “true holiday horror” by checking the Megan’s Law website for updates on local sex offenders.

Photo via She Knows
Children can be vulnerable to assault while
trick-or-treating for Halloween.

“Not only is Halloween upon us, but Daylight Savings Time is coming to an end,” Vicari stated in a press release. “This is a perfect time to review the Megan’s Law site to ensure that no known sex offenders have moved into their neighborhoods.”

The database lists current information on all convicted sex offenders who are New Jersey residents. Towns, counties, ZIP Codes and even individual streets can be easily reviewed. More advanced searches allow users to input the names of convicted sex offenders or check only newer records.

“This only takes a few minutes and can make a big difference in keeping a child safe,” Vicari said.

According to the website, there are 288 registered sex offenders in Ocean County, which is an increase of 24 offenders since The SandPaper last checked in July.

The registry is not a complete and comprehensive listing of every person who has ever committed any sex offense in New Jersey, nor does it make information about every sex offender living in New Jersey available on the Internet. In accordance with state law, individuals who have been convicted, adjudicated delinquent or found not guilty by reason of insanity for a sex offense must register under New Jersey’s Megan’s Law.

Vicari suggests parents periodically check the Megan’s Law database throughout the year.

“It’s important to know what dangers a child may encounter when they are alone and out of the house,” he said. “It’s also essential that they learn to avoid strangers and how to react if they are approached by an adult they do not know.”

If a child is approached by a stranger in a car, he or she should be taught to run in the opposite way, toward the rear of the car. This way, the driver will have to turn around before being able to pursue the child, Vicari said.

The Megan’s Law database can be accessed through a link on the Ocean County Government Homepage at co.ocean.nj.us. The page can also be retrieved directly at njsp.org/info/reg_sexoffend.html.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.