In March, Lakewood resident Jackie Anselmo started a campaign to restrict parental custody rights of convicted sex offenders.
Less than six months later, a bill to that effect has been introduced in the New Jersey Assembly.
Bill A-5160, which is sponsored by Assemblyman Sean T. Kean, R-Ocean, would amend existing law to bar “custody of and visitation rights to any child for a person convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child under age 13.” Full Article
This story was highlighted earlier this year and she was lambasted for it. Pushing her own agenda and got someone who needed political clout in an upcoming election a topic they felt they could ride to victory. One size does not fit all and a broad brush stroke won’t work.
Keep in mind that most registrants in New Jersey are on lifetime parole and have fewer options to fight any of these new laws. Most new registrants who are NOT on lifetime parole are those who moved in from out of state.
Yes, we need more blanket laws and no individual evaluation.
Good thing she only wants those with specific convictions to be automatically barred. I’m glad my alcoholic step-father who constantly beat my brother and mother and nearly killed her on more than one occasions is not on the list to be barred from future and current custody. That would’ve been a real travesty. I’m glad my county had no issues granting him unsupervised visitations with my brother despite all the evidence, and that the cop was able to get passed my brothers tears of fear when he told my mother SHE would be the one to go to jail if she didn’t show up with my brother.
Alcohol & violence was in my home too though not constant it was undeniable and brutally, brutally painful to my brother, sister and myself. The heartache is brutal. But since there was no sex offense. . .