N.J. Stat. » Title 2C — THE NEW JERSEY CODE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
New Jersey Statutes

N.J. Stat. § 2C:7-12 (2026)

Findings, declarations relative to sex offender central registry on the Internet

✓ current as of May 2026
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1. The Legislature finds and declares that the public safety will be enhanced by making information about certain sex offenders contained in the sex offender central registry established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1994, c.133 (C.2C:7-4) available to the public through the Internet. Knowledge of whether a person is a convicted sex offender at risk of re-offense could be a significant factor in protecting oneself and one's family members, or those in care of a group or community organization, from recidivist acts by the offender. The technology afforded by the Internet would make this information readily accessible to parents and private entities, enabling them to undertake appropriate remedial precautions to prevent or avoid placing potential victims at risk. Public access to registry information is intended solely for the protection of the public, and is not intended to impose additional criminal punishment upon any convicted sex offender.

The Legislature further finds and declares that, in some instances, countervailing interests support a legislative determination to exclude from the Internet registry the registration information of certain sex offenders. For example, the interest in facilitating rehabilitation of juveniles who have been adjudicated delinquent for the commission of one sex offense, but who do not present a relatively high risk of re-offense, justifies the decision to limit public access to information about such juveniles through the Internet. Other instances where the Legislature has determined that making sex offender registry information available to the general public through the Internet would not necessarily serve the public safety purposes of the law include moderate risk offenders whose sole sex offense involved incest or consensual sex. However, in such cases, the legislature deems it appropriate and consistent with the public safety purposes of the law to provide a process that permits inclusion of information about these individuals in the Internet registry where public access would be warranted, based on the relative risk posed by the particular offender.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 2001–2024 · leading case: A.A. v. New Jersey, 176 F. Supp. 2d 274 (D.N.J. 2001).
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A.A. v. New Jersey, 176 F. Supp. 2d 274 (D.N.J. 2001). · cites it 14× “167 (codified at N.J.S.A. §§ 2C:7-12 to - 19) (hereinafter referred to as the “Internet Registry Act”).”
L.A. ex rel. Z.Kh. v. Hoffman, 144 F. Supp. 3d 649 (D.N.J. 2015). · cites it 2× “N.J.S.A. 2C:7-12. Recently, however, the New Jersey legislature enacted New Jersey Senate Bill S276, which as of July 2014, amended Megan’s Law and mandated that sex offenders who had been found compulsive and repetitive at sentencing be listed on the NJSOIR, regardless of their…”
A. A. v. New Jersey, 341 F.3d 206 (3rd Cir. 2003). · cites it 3× “See N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 2C:7-12 et seq. (2003) (“Registry”).”
In the Matter of Registrant D.F.S., 141 A.3d 324 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2016). · cites it 4× “N.J.S.A. 2C:7-12 to -19. The Legislature made the following findings and declarations: The Legislature finds and declares that the public safety will be enhanced by making information about certain sex offenders contained in the sex offender central registry established pursuant…”
In the Matter of Registrant R.S. (ml-18-12-0009, Middlesex Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2021). · cites it 4× “2C:47-1 to -10, and sex offender internet registration, N.J.S.A. 2C:7-12 to -19. N.J.S.A. 2C:47-3 allows courts to sentence certain sex offenders to serve their terms of incarceration at the ADTC when the court finds, based on the results of a psychological examination, "that…”
In the Matter of Registrant R.S. (N.J. 2024). · cites it 3× “167 (codified at N.J.S.A. 2C:7-12 to -19). In addition to creating the New Jersey Sex Offender Internet Registry, the Megan’s Law amendment mandates that “information in the State registry about certain sex offenders [be] publicly available on the internet.”
In the Matter of Registrant B.B. (ml-19-01-0027, Atl. Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2022). · cites it 2× “'s personal identifiers not be included on the Sex Offender Internet Registry, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:7-12 to -18. B.B. cross-appeals the trial court's finding under factor six of the Registrant Risk Assessment Scale (RRAS) that B.”
In the Matter of Registrant N.F. (16090004, Hudson Cnty. & Statewide)(record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018). “2C:7-1 to -11 (Megan's Law), and as subject to Tier II community notification and inclusion on the Sex Offender Internet Registry (Internet Registry), N.J.S.A. 2C:7-12 to -19. We affirm. I. This appeal arises from the following facts.”
In the Matter of Registrant J.P. (18010056, Atl. Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2020). “was not exempt from the Internet Sex Offender Central Registry, N.J.S.A. 2C:7-12 and -13. That each count related to a separate victim, she opined, meant that the household/incest exception was not available to J.”
State of New Jersey Vs. H.C. (18-09-0829, Hudson Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2021). “2C:7-1 to -23, which subjected him to community notification and inclusion on the Sex Offender Internet Registry (Internet Registry), N.J.S.A. 2C:7-12 to -19. Defendant contends he qualified for the "household/incest" exception under N.”
In the Matter of Registrant R.R. (ml-20-15-0033, Ocean Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2022). “In addition to community notification, N.J.S.A. 2C:7-12 to -20 requires that registrants in the tiers two or three are to be placed on the Internet Registry unless exempted by N.”
State of New Jersey v. W.j.h., III (14-06-1537, Ocean Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2022). “2, and five years of parole supervision upon release and further subject to Megan's Law, N.J.S.A. 2C:7-12 to -19, and Parole Supervision for Life.”
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