Doe v. Poritz
New Jersey Supreme Court
662 A.2d 367 (1995)
- Written by Deanna Curl, JD
Facts
In 1994, the New Jersey legislature passed a series of sex-offender registration and notification laws collectively known as Megan’s Law (the laws). The laws required registration by all sex offenders convicted after the laws’ effective date, and by sex offenders convicted before the effective date whose behavior was deemed repetitive and compulsive. For offenders who were no longer incarcerated, registration required an offender to be photographed, fingerprinted, and to provide personal details for a registration form. The registration form required an offender to list a physical description, offense committed, home address, school or employment address, vehicle information, and license plate number. Offenders whose conduct was deemed repetitive and compulsive were required to verify this information quarterly, whereas all other offenders were required to verify the information annually. The registration information was open to all federal and state law-enforcement agencies from any state. A previously convicted sex offender using the pseudonym John Doe (plaintiff) challenged the laws on constitutional grounds. The trial court upheld the laws, and Doe appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Wilentz, C.J.)
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