Federal Laws addressing child sexual assault
Except in limited circumstances, federal laws typically do not apply to child sexual abuse matters that takes place wholly inside a single state. These matters are therefore generally handled by state or local authorities and prosecuted under state laws. However, if the sexual abuse of a child occurred on federal lands, the offense may be prosecuted under federal law. Federal lands include areas such as military bases, Indian territories, and other government– owned lands or properties (See 18 U.S.C. §7).
Under federal law, offenders convicted of sexually abusing a child face fines and imprisonment. Furthermore, an offender may face harsher penalties if the crime occurred in aggravated circumstances, which include, for example, the offender used force or threats, inflicted serious bodily injury or death, or kidnapped a child in the process of committing child sexual abuse.
Federal protection for sexual assault survivors & families
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972
Title IX, a widely recognized federal law, protects all students from sexual harassment or sexual violence. Title IX applies to nearly any academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, or other education program or activity operated by a recipient of federal funds.
VINELink - United States
VINE (VINELink.com) is the nation's most reliable and confidential source for updated custody status and criminal case information. Register and stay informed. Empowered by information.
Click here to access VINELink in New Jersey.
Megan's Law - United States Sex offender Registry
Megan's Law allows the Department of Police to make public information about certain sex offenders required to register under Megan's Law.
This information is being made available on the Internet to facilitate public access to information about persons who have committed a sex offense, to enable you to take appropriate precautions to protect yourself and those in your care from possible harm. Public access to registry information is intended solely for the protection of the public, and should never be used to threaten, intimidate or harass another.
Click here to access Megan's Law FAQs.
Click here to access Megan's Law Guidelines.
Click here to access the New Jersey Sex Offender Online Registry (Megan's Law).
Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act
The Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act(the Wetterling Act) is a United States law that requires states to implement a registry of sex offenders and crimes against children.
Legislative History of Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification
Summaries of federal Sex Offender Registration laws by Office of Sexual Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART)