The basics of Parole Supervision for Life (PSL) in NJ

(This post continues our examination of the components of a sentence for certain sex offenders. Our previous posts include discussions of an Avenel evaluation and Nicole’s Law.)

On February 19, 2015, an Ocean County man pled guilty to two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault, which is a first-degree crime. As reported by NJ.com, the defendant faces a potential 13 years in a New Jersey State Prison, Megan’s Law registration, Parole Supervision for Life, and a restraining order under Nicole’s Law. Today, we are going to briefly review Parole Supervision of Life (PSL). Based on reports by our clients, PSL is by far the most onerous component of their sentence. (Note, that individuals convicted of a sex crime prior to 2004 are on the previous iteration of the law, entitled Community Supervision for Life or CSL.) There are some definitive differences between CSL and PSL, however, we will examine that on a different day.

Here are some important facts to know about PSL:

1. Individuals who have been convicted of the following crimes will be sentenced to PSL: Aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, certain kidnapping and child endangerment offenses, luring, violating a condition of a special sentence of CSL, and an attempt to commit any of the above;
2. The length of this sentence is generally 15 years, unless the sentence was illegal.  Always consult with an attorney to establish your eligibility.
3. The New Jersey State Parole Board supervises PSL parolees.
4. A PSL parolee must adhere to all of the general conditions of parole, and may have some special conditions specifically formulated for sex offenders, including, but not limited to: prohibition of alcohol consumption, restricted Internet access, and GPS-monitoring via an ankle bracelet.

If you are facing a sex crimes charge that may lead to a sentence of PSL, you should contact an experienced attorney who can advise you as to what you may expect under PSL. If you are on PSL and you do not feel you were properly advised prior to sentencing, again, contact an attorney to review your case as you may be eligible for post-conviction relief (PCR).

Source: “Ocean County man admits to sexually assaulting young girls,” by Rob Spahr, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 19, 2015.