New Jersey seeks to create public domestic violence registry

NEPTUNE, NJ – A bill in Trenton seeks to create a domestic violence registry similar to one existing under Megan’s Law.

It will be called Stephanie’s Law. It is named after Stephanie Nicole Parze, a Freehold woman killed by her abusive ex-boyfriend. Her disappearance set off a search that last 87 days before her body was found. Her boyfriend, who had been released from jail on an unrelated matter killed himself after being released.

New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal has sponsored legislation requiring the state to establish a publicly-accessible domestic violence registry; law enforcement officers must search State’s domestic violence registries when conducting an arrest.

The database would be available to the public, accessible by the internet.

The registry would include the person’s name and any aliases the person has used or under which the person may be or may have been known; a brief description of any crime or offense involving domestic violence for which the person was convicted; the date and location of each disposition; and a general description of the person’s modus operandi, if applicable; the person’s age, race, gender, date of birth, height, weight, hair, eye color, and any distinguishing scars or tattoos; a photograph of the person and the date on which the photograph was entered into the registry; the make, model, color, year, and license plate number of any vehicle operated by the person; and the person’s last known address.

This bill establishes “Stephanie’s Law,” to require the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), in conjunction with the Attorney General, to develop and maintain a publicly-accessible domestic violence Internet registry, and require law enforcement officers to search the State’s domestic violence registries upon arresting a person.

On Monday, the bill was introduced.