TRENTON – Today, Governor Phil Murphy signed S3078 into law, which will require DNA sample collection from individuals arrested for child pornography offenses.
“Protecting New Jersey’s children is of the utmost urgency, and this legislation will help ensure that child pornography offenses are treated with the same seriousness as other heinous crimes,” said Governor Murphy. “I thank law enforcement for their constant vigilance, and the bill sponsors for their leadership.”
The legislation was sponsored by Senators Linda Greenstein and Nicholas Sacco and Assemblymembers Yvonne Lopez, Eliana Pintor Marin, and Joannn Downey.
“A person arrested for possessing, distributing or producing child pornography is a clear threat to children,” said Assemblymembers Yvonne Lopez, Eliana Pintor Marin, and Joannn Downey. “We already have several provisions under current law to collect blood or biological samples from offenders arrested for crimes like sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, kidnapping, luring or enticing a child, and endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual contact. It only makes sense to add child pornography arrests to the list. Most importantly, expanding our criminal database may help us catch future offenders and ensure they are brought to justice.”
“DNA samples are collected from offenders at the time of arrest for various crimes such as sexual assault, luring or enticing a child and endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct,” said Senator Linda Greenstein. “Crimes involving child pornography must have ramifications reflecting the predatory nature of these individuals’ actions. Our children are to be protected at all cost and when crimes are committed against them, we must have every possible avenue to pursue justice.”
