FEDS BACK JERSEY SEX OFFENDER LAW

The Justice Department is defending a New Jersey law that requires cops to alert residents when a high-risk sex offender moves into their neighborhood. Attorney General Janet Reno cited sex offender recidivism rates as high as 75 percent as she announced assistance for New Jersey in battling three challenges to the new law. The first challenger, convicted rapist Carlos Diaz, claims the law violates his constitutional rights to privacy and due process. Diaz defense attorney Ronald Chen told TIME Daily that federal intervention would have little affect on his case.