FC: N.J. federal judge rules sex offender info can't go online

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-8105170.html

   Sex offender addresses remain off Web

   By Reuters
   December 7, 2001, 4:20 p.m. PT
   
   TRENTON, N.J.--A federal judge has ruled that New Jersey cannot post
   the addresses of sex offenders on the Internet under the state's
   first-in-the-nation sex offenders' registration law, state officials
   said Friday. 
   
   U.S. District Judge Joseph Irenas ruled that New Jersey's Megan's Law
   does allow state police to list the names of sex offenders on a Web
   site due to be launched next month. But he said an offender's
   constitutional right to privacy outweighed the government's need to
   publish their addresses on the Web.
   
   The addresses of the worst offenders can be released to neighbors
   under existing law.
   
   Irenas issued the ruling Thursday in Camden, N.J. The state made it
   public Friday.
   
   "There's a strong likelihood we will appeal it. In the meantime, we
   will comply with the court," said Chuck Davis, spokesman for the state
   attorney general's office.

   [...]



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