Public Domestic Violence Registry Proposed By NJ Lawmakers

NEW JERSEY — A new law would create a public domestic violence registry in New Jersey, and require law enforcement to consult records when conducting arrests.

“Stephanie’s Law” is named for Freehold woman Stephanie Nicole Parze, whose body was found in January 2020. Parze’s ex-boyfriend admitted to killing her in a suicide note, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said at the time.

Parze’s parents Ed and Sharlene created a foundation in her name, to raise awareness, provide resources for loved ones of missing persons, and help women caught up in domestic violence situations find a way out.

Parze had filed a domestic violence charge against ex-boyfriend John Ozbilgen before she disappeared on Oct. 30, 2020. After her disappearance, her parents learned there had been two previous domestic violence charges filed against him, Sharlene Parze told Patch at the time.

Under this bill, anyone would be able to access information about whether or not a potential or current romantic partner has been convicted of domestic violence or has a restraining order against them in NJ.

Previous Patch coverage of Parze’s death:

• Family Creates Stephanie Parze Foundation To Honor Her Life
• Suicide Note Confirmed Killing Of Stephanie Parze: Prosecutor

Stephanie’s Law has versions in the NJ Senate (S3712) and Assembly (A5321), both sponsored by Democratic legislators.

The bill directs the Administrative Office of the Courts, in conjunction with the NJ Office of the Attorney General, to develop and maintain an Internet registry of domestic violence offenders which anyone could search.

This is separate from the state’s domestic violence central registry, which is accessible only to law enforcement and gun shop owners, though the bill would direct officers to determine if any domestic violence restraining order is in place against the accused person.

The public registry would include anyone who has been convicted of a domestic violence crime, has had a final domestic violence restraining order issued against them, or has committed contempt of a temporary or final domestic violence restraining order, according to the text of the bill.

• Information listed in the publicly-available registry would include:
• The person’s name and alias, or names under which the person is also known
• A general description of the crime committed and modus operandi if applicable
• The person’s birth date, height and weight, eye and hair color, and any distinguishing marks or tattoos
• A photograph of the person and the date it was entered in the registry
• Information on any vehicle the person operates
• The person’s last known address (those on the list would have to inform officials within five days of changing address).

Under the bill, anyone whose name is included by mistake may petition the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) for removal. The AOC would have to remove the person from the registry if they have not had a final restraining order entered against them, not been found guilty of contempt of a temporary or final domestic violence restraining order, or has not been found guilty of a crime or offense involving domestic violence.

Where’s this bill? Yet to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it was referred on March 13. In the Assembly, the bill was referred to the Assembly Judiciary committee on March 20.

Who sponsored it? In the Senate: Vin Gopal (D-11). In the Assembly: Linda Carter (D-22), Sadaf Jaffer (D-16), and Sterley Stanley (D-18).