FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         CIV
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1995                        (202) 616-2771
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

                          MEDIA ADVISORY

     The Justice Department has available copies of an amicus
curiae brief filed Wednesday/Thursday by the Civil Divison and
the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey in
support of New Jersey's sex offender registration and community
notification statutes, popularly known as "Megan's Law."  The
State of New Jersey has filed a motion for summary judgment in
the case of Diaz v. Whitman in U.S. District Court.

     The Attorney General said on February 9, that the Justice
Department would back the State of New Jersey in defending its
law against constitutional attack.  She explained that the
federal government has a major interest in seeing to it that the
constitutionality of the law is sustained in the courts.  In
addition, the Attorney General believes the states must have the
flexibility to enact laws that they believe will provide
immediate and necessary protection, as New Jersey has done.

     The Justice Department's brief includes information on the
relationship between Megan's Law and the Crime Bill's Jacob
Wetterling Act, which encourages states to enact registration and
community notification statutes.  While the Diaz case does not
directly address the constitutionality of the Jacob Wetterling
Act, this is the first federal court to address the
constitutional challenges to a community notification provision
such as "Megan's Law."

     Reporters who would like a copy of the brief, can pick one
up in room 1228 of the Justice Department.


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95-093