Daniel’s Law

Daniel’s Law

 

Daniel’s Law (P.L. 2020 c. 125, amended by P.L. 2021 c. 371) prohibits the disclosure of home address or unpublished telephone number of certain law enforcement officers, judicial officers, prosecutors and the immediate family members of those individuals. It also establishes criminal and civil penalties for the disclosure of such information. Beginning January 12, 2023, all agencies must fully comply with the provisions of Daniel’s Law. On that date, “covered persons” may begin registering to have their information redacted or “masked”. Agencies will then have 30 days from notification of registration to redact or mask an approved registrant’s identifying information in their public records.

 

Daniel’s Law was enacted in response to the tragic death of Daniel Anderl, the son of Judge Esther Salas and Mark Anderl. The law prohibits disclosure of the residential addresses of certain persons covered by the law (“Covered Persons”) on websites controlled by state, county and local government agencies. The community of Covered Persons includes former, active, and retired judicial officers, prosecutors, and members of law enforcement and their immediate family members residing in the same household.

 

Daniel’s Law created an exception for property tax records to redact/mask the owner’s name of the “covered person” and created the Office of Information Privacy (“OIP”) under the Department of Community Affairs to handle all requests for redaction. The OIP created a portal for “covered persons” to submit their information to be protected under Daniel’s Law. The only way a person can have their information redacted is to be approved by OIP.

 

Information for taxpayers who wish to apply for redaction as to a “covered person” can be found at: https://danielslaw.nj.gov/.

 

 

NEED MORE INFORMATION?

Contact:

Office of Information Privacy

NJ Dept. of Community Affairs

nj.gov/dca/oip

OIP@dca.nj.gov

609-815-3939