Camden County Failure to Register Offense

The Criminal Attorneys In Our Camden Office Include Former County Prosecutors With Extensive Experience Defending Sex Crimes Such As Failure To Register Under Megan's Law

Failure to register under Megan's Law is a serious offense in Camden County that requires representation by a talented criminal lawyer. Our Camden Firm represents clients charged with this offense in Cherry Hill, Gloucester Township, Lindenwold, Voorhees, Pennsauken and throughout the region.There are significant collateral consequences when someone is convicted of a sex offense in New Jersey. One of the biggest ones is having to register annually, report a change of address and advising law enforcement of access to an internet device under Megan’s Law. Failure to comply with these requirements results in a new felony criminal offense for failure to register and exposure to a stiff prison sentence. This the primary reason why you must strongly consider hiring an accomplished Camden County sex crimes lawyer immediately.

We are Marshall Criminal Defense, a highly accomplished defense firm that has extensive skills to help anyone charged with failure to register or advise the police of a change in address. Our rare qualifications include:

  • Over 200 years of combined experience representing clients arrested for failure to register in Camden, Voorhees, Pennsauken, Stratford, Gloucester Township, Cherry Hill and elsewhere in Camden County
  • A team of ten (10) lawyers that handle nothing but defense
  • Former county prosecutors on staff who have served as Director of Major Crimes, Drugs Task Force, Juvenile Unit, Special Operations and even the entire Trial Division
  • Certified criminal trial attorneys
  • Offices conveniently located in both the City of Camden and Cherry Hill to serve you

A criminal defense attorney at our firm will sit down with you and formulate a comprehensive plan to combat the allegations against you so that a conviction on the failure to register charge is avoided. Don’t let this offense (or even the accusation) ruin your life, contact our Camden Office now for a free consultation. A lawyer is available 24/7 for free consultations by calling 856.288.3350.

Charged With Failure to Register In Camden County New Jersey

The purpose of the sex offender registry is to track individuals who the law deems to be sexual predators. An individual falls within this description under New Jersey Law if they are convicted for aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, criminal sexual contact on a minor, endangering the welfare of a child involving sexual conduct, distributing child pornography and several other offenses. An individual is required to provide the police with their current address, any change in address, schooling, and employment information, as well as any access to the internet (e.g. computer or smart phone device), when they fall within this category. Failure to fulfill these obligations triggers a failure to register offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:7-2. The registration and reporting requirements of this law are set forth at subsection c and d of the statute and provide that:

c. A person required to register under the provisions of this act shall do so on forms to be provided by the designated registering agency as follows:

(1) A person who is required to register and who is under supervision in the community on probation, parole, furlough, work release, or a similar program, shall register at the time the person is placed under supervision or no later than 120 days after the effective date of this act, whichever is later, in accordance with procedures established by the Department of Corrections, the Department of Human Services, the Juvenile Justice Commission established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1995, c.284 (C.52:17B-170) or the Administrative Office of the Courts, whichever is responsible for supervision;

(2) A person confined in a correctional or juvenile facility or involuntarily committed who is required to register shall register prior to release in accordance with procedures established by the Department of Corrections, the Department of Human Services or the Juvenile Justice Commission and, within 48 hours of release, shall also register with the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the person resides or, if the municipality does not have a local police force, the Superintendent of State Police;

(3) A person moving to or returning to this State from another jurisdiction shall register with the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the person will reside or, if the municipality does not have a local police force, the Superintendent of State Police within 120 days of the effective date of this act or 10 days of first residing in or returning to a municipality in this State, whichever is later;

(4) A person required to register on the basis of a conviction prior to the effective date who is not confined or under supervision on the effective date of this act shall register within 120 days of the effective date of this act with the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the person will reside or, if the municipality does not have a local police force, the Superintendent of State Police;

(5) A person who in another jurisdiction is required to register as a sex offender and who is enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis in any public or private educational institution in this State, including any secondary school, trade or professional institution, institution of higher education or other post-secondary school shall, within ten days of commencing attendance at such educational institution, register with the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the educational institution is located or, if the municipality does not have a local police force, the Superintendent of State Police;

(6) A person who in another jurisdiction is required to register as a sex offender and who is employed or carries on a vocation in this State, on either a full-time or a part-time basis, with or without compensation, for more than 14 consecutive days or for an aggregate period exceeding 30 days in a calendar year, shall, within ten days after commencing such employment or vocation, register with the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the employer is located or where the vocation is carried on, as the case may be, or, if the municipality does not have a local police force, the Superintendent of State Police;

(7) In addition to any other registration requirements set forth in this section, a person required to register under this act who is enrolled at, employed by or carries on a vocation at an institution of higher education or other post-secondary school in this State shall, within ten days after commencing such attendance, employment or vocation, register with the law enforcement unit of the educational institution, if the institution has such a unit.

d. (1) Upon a change of address, a person shall notify the law enforcement agency with which the person is registered and shall re-register with the appropriate law enforcement agency no less than 10 days before he intends to first reside at his new address. Upon a change of employment or school enrollment status, a person shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency no later than five days after any such change. A person who fails to notify the appropriate law enforcement agency of a change of address or status in accordance with this subsection is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

(2) A person required to register under this act shall provide the appropriate law enforcement agency with information as to whether the person has routine access to or use of a computer or any other device with Internet capability. A person who fails to notify the appropriate law enforcement agency of such information or of a change in the person’s access to or use of a computer or other device with Internet capability or who provides false information concerning the person’s access to or use of a computer or any other device with Internet capability is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

e. A person required to register under paragraph (1) of subsection b. of this section or under paragraph (3) of subsection b. due to a sentence imposed on the basis of criteria similar to the criteria set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection b. shall verify his address with the appropriate law enforcement agency every 90 days in a manner prescribed by the Attorney General. A person required to register under paragraph (2) of subsection b. of this section or under paragraph (3) of subsection b. on the basis of a conviction for an offense similar to an offense enumerated in paragraph (2) of subsection b. shall verify his address annually in a manner prescribed by the Attorney General. One year after the effective date of this act, the Attorney General shall review, evaluate and, if warranted, modify pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) the verification requirement. Any person who knowingly provides false information concerning his place of residence or who fails to verify his address with the appropriate law enforcement agency or other entity, as prescribed by the Attorney General in accordance with this subsection, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

f. Except as provided in subsection g. of this section, a person required to register under this act may make application to the Superior Court of this State to terminate the obligation upon proof that the person has not committed an offense within 15 years following conviction or release from a correctional facility for any term of imprisonment imposed, whichever is later, and is not likely to pose a threat to the safety of others.

g. A person required to register under this section who has been convicted of, adjudicated delinquent, or acquitted by reason of insanity for more than one sex offense as defined in subsection b. of this section or who has been convicted of, adjudicated delinquent, or acquitted by reason of insanity for aggravated sexual assault pursuant to subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:14-2 or sexual assault pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:14-2 is not eligible under subsection f. of this section to make application to the Superior Court of this State to terminate the registration obligation.

Penalties for Failing To Register, Report a Change in Address or Accurately Disclose Access to a Computer or Cell Phone With Internet Access

As previously stated, failure to register under Megan’s Law in New Jersey as required by 2C:7-2 results in a third degree crime. The penalties for failure to register include a fine of $15,000 and up to 5 years in prison. Failure to report a change in address, accurately disclosed access to a computer or smart phone (i.e. internet accessible) or verify his/her address annually with local law enforcement is guilty of a fourth degree crime. The penalties for these forms of 2C:7-2 violation include up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. You should also know that inaccurate information or misrepresentation of facts concerning residency or access to an internet device results in a violation of this law in exactly the same way as noncompliance altogether.

Camden NJ Sex Offender Registration Defense Attorney

Whether you were charged based on alleged failure to register with the local police annually, advise law enforcement of access to a smart phone or computer or because you failed to report a change in address, a 2C:7-2 conviction will seriously impact your life. Hiring the best Megan’s Law Defense Lawyer in NJ you can find is going to significantly increase the probability that this is not going to occur. The criminal defense attorneys at Marshall Criminal Defense have the knowledge and skill to ensure that an effective defense is presented so that you avert a negative outcome. To speak to one of the attorneys about an arrest in Camden, Gloucester City, Berlin, Lindenwold, Collingswood, Audubon or another local town in Camden County, call 856.288.3350. Lawyers are available around the clock to assist you and initial consultations are always free.