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NEWARK, New Jersey (AP) -- New Jersey sex offenders who face supervision under Megan's Law will be confined to their homes Halloween night and will be under orders not to answer the door when trick-or-treaters come calling.
It will be the first time sex offenders in New Jersey will be subject to a curfew.
A lawyer representing sex offenders says the ban won't protect children and the onus is on parents to keep kids safe.
The rules were issued by the state parole board in a recent letter to the 2,200 offenders it supervises.
The offenders must be indoors by 7 p.m. on Monday and cannot answer their doors when trick-or-treaters knock. They can't attend parties where children are present, nor can they take children -- including their own -- in search of treats.
"Our goal is to avoid unsupervised contact," said Edward M. Bray, acting deputy executive director of the state parole board. "There wasn't a specific event or events that was the impetus for this. We're taking a proactive stance."
Bray said he isn't aware of other states with a similar curfew, though many states and the federal government have adopted versions of Megan's Law. The law got its start in New Jersey after the 1994 rape and murder of 7-year-old Megan Kanka by a sex offender who lived across the street in Hamilton Township.
Megan's Law requires sex offenders to register with police when they move into a community. It also requires that the offender's neighbors be notified.
Lawyer John S. Furlong said Tuesday he already has heard from six of his clients regarding the curfew, but said a legal challenge would not be practical. The state has the authority to impose the curfew, he conceded.
But he said: "My own view is that it's unfair, expensive and inane. In other words, it's just stupid. Nobody is going to be safer. Nobody is going to be less at risk. No purpose is served other than the arbitrary abuse of power by people who can."
He added: "The best monitors in the world for children are their parents. You want to keep your kids safe? Go trick or treating with them."
Sixty parole officers in the newly formed sex offender management unit, along with members of the 12 district offices, will perform checks on the sex offenders, Bray said. Local police departments also have been notified of the curfew and were asked to contact the board if they see a violation, he said.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/10/25/sex.offenders.ap/index.html
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NEWARK, New Jersey (AP) -- New Jersey sex offenders who face supervision under Megan's Law will be confined to their homes Halloween night and will be under orders not to answer the door when trick-or-treaters come calling.
It will be the first time sex offenders in New Jersey will be subject to a curfew.
A lawyer representing sex offenders says the ban won't protect children and the onus is on parents to keep kids safe.
The rules were issued by the state parole board in a recent letter to the 2,200 offenders it supervises.
The offenders must be indoors by 7 p.m. on Monday and cannot answer their doors when trick-or-treaters knock. They can't attend parties where children are present, nor can they take children -- including their own -- in search of treats.
"Our goal is to avoid unsupervised contact," said Edward M. Bray, acting deputy executive director of the state parole board. "There wasn't a specific event or events that was the impetus for this. We're taking a proactive stance."
Bray said he isn't aware of other states with a similar curfew, though many states and the federal government have adopted versions of Megan's Law. The law got its start in New Jersey after the 1994 rape and murder of 7-year-old Megan Kanka by a sex offender who lived across the street in Hamilton Township.
Megan's Law requires sex offenders to register with police when they move into a community. It also requires that the offender's neighbors be notified.
Lawyer John S. Furlong said Tuesday he already has heard from six of his clients regarding the curfew, but said a legal challenge would not be practical. The state has the authority to impose the curfew, he conceded.
But he said: "My own view is that it's unfair, expensive and inane. In other words, it's just stupid. Nobody is going to be safer. Nobody is going to be less at risk. No purpose is served other than the arbitrary abuse of power by people who can."
He added: "The best monitors in the world for children are their parents. You want to keep your kids safe? Go trick or treating with them."
Sixty parole officers in the newly formed sex offender management unit, along with members of the 12 district offices, will perform checks on the sex offenders, Bray said. Local police departments also have been notified of the curfew and were asked to contact the board if they see a violation, he said.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/10/25/sex.offenders.ap/index.html
