News and Information

FOR RELEASE:
August 8, 2005

CONTACT:
Derek Roseman
609-689-9940

GREENSTEIN, BENSON APPLAUD PROPOSAL TO KEEP SEX OFFENDERS OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Democrats Say Vitale Idea for Instant Background Checks
Another Tool to Ensure Predators Stay Away from Kids
 
(HAMILTON TWP.) –Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein and Councilman Dan Benson today applauded a plan that would create a system for instant background checks to ensure registered sex offenders are not unwittingly given access to public schools.

In today’s edition of the Home News Tribune, state Senator Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) announced his support for importing technology to New Jersey that allows a school to instantaneously cross-check a visitor’s name against sex offender registries.

Greenstein said she has contacted Vitale's office to offer to help move the idea through the Assembly.

“The key to stopping sex offenders from preying on our children is to close all avenues of access for them to our kids,” said Greenstein (D-Plainsboro), a leading advocate for toughening rules against sex offenders.  “Right now, we have no way of telling whether the people who enter school buildings all across the state may be sexual predators looking for their next victim.  This technology can become a essential part of ensuring sex offenders are kept far away from our kids.”

V.Soft works by cross-checking the driver’s license of a school visitor against the 42 publicly-accessible sexual offender registries nationwide.  In addition to the cross-reference, the program also produces an identification sticker for the visitor to wear.  The entire process takes approximately 10 seconds, according to Raptor Technologies.

Since its inception, V.Soft has registered 2.1 million visitors in more than 900 schools in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, South Dakota, and Texas.  California is prepared to roll-out V.Soft in its schools later this month.  The program costs $1,500 to install and $36 per month for access fees.

Greenstein and Benson said that the state should offer financial assistance to alleviate the cost burden for public schools to install the V.Soft system.

Benson said V.Soft can work in conjunction with other child-protection measures to ensure sex offenders keep a safe distance from children.

“Our schools must be kept as safe havens that sexual predators cannot exploit,” said Benson (D-Hamilton), who has sponsored anti-predator measures as a member of Hamilton Township Council.  “No measure we institute to protect our kids will be effective unless we have the means to track these offenders and keep them at arm’s length.  This technology appears to be a great way to do just that.”