By Maynard & Sumner, LLC of Maynard & Sumner, LLC posted in Megan’s Law on Thursday, May 30, 2013.
It is nearly 20 years since Megan’s Law was first passed in the State of New Jersey. Since its inception, the NJ law has been reformed numerous times, and countless bills have been introduced before the state legislature in an attempt to “reform” the law. Many of these so-called reforms are merely attempts to toughen the law and place additional restrictions and penalties on those convicted of sex crimes under the guise of increasing public safety and reducing sex offender recidivism. However, some individuals are organizing in an effort to raise consciousness about the negative impact this all-encompassing system is having on individuals and society.
The Trenton Times published an exposé on one of these organizations-New Jersey Family Advocating Intelligent Reform (NJ FAIR), which advocates for Megan’s Law reform and provides support to reformed sex offenders and their families. The current director of the organization, Terry Peifer lives in the same neighborhood where Megan Kanka (the law’s namesake) once resided. Peifer’s approach is balanced, she is not against Megan’s Law as she is the mother of a victim, but she is also the mother of someone who has been accused. The organization’s website states:
NJ FAIR supports the prevention of child sexual abuse through carefully structured laws that target violent, forced, and/or dangerous predatory acts of sex against children. Existing laws encompass a wide range of offenders and require the exact same resources be used for both violent, dangerous offenders and those whose offenses were neither violent, forced, nor dangerous. With the majority of these offenders on the Public Registry it makes it difficult for the average American to distinguish between the violent, dangerous offenders and those that are neither violent, dangerous or teens who committed consensual sex out of love.
For more information on NJ FAIR visit their website and blog at:
https://fairnj.wordpress.com