Press Releases
Girgenti Legislation To Enhance Internet Safety Becomes Law
December 28, 2007
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator John A. Girgenti, Chairman of the Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, to prohibit convicted sexual predators from accessing the internet, was signed into law by Governor Codey yesterday.
“I understand how important it is to protect the children of this state from sex offenders,” said Senator Girgenti, D-Bergen and Passaic. “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.” He added, “the State has a responsibility to its residents to restrict access to the Internet by dangerous sexual predators and others who use electronic means to facilitate their crimes.”
Signed in the presence of law enforcement officials at the State Police Division Headquarters in West Trenton, bill S-1979 will give the State of New Jersey virtually unparalleled authority to monitor and restrict internet access by convicted sex offenders. Currently, there are no federal laws that restrict internet access to sex offenders. Only two other states – Florida and Nevada – have such legislation.
“Everyday, children are approached by online predators posing as another child or teenager. This is a frightening fact of life in the 21st century” said Senator Girgenti. “My bill will give law enforcement the legal authority to keep these dangerous predators off the internet, and away from our children.”