Opinion ID: 1998065
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Use of Scale

Text: The Scale, however, is not a scientific device. It is merely a useful tool to help prosecutors and courts determine whether a registrant's risk of re-offense is low, high, or moderate. Yet, the Scale is just that  a tool. Although a tier classification made on the basis of the Scale should be afforded deference, a court should not rely solely on a registrant's point total when it conducts a judicial review of a prosecutor's tier level classification or manner of notification decisions. Many of the concerns expressed by the registrant and amici curiae are substantially addressed by the judicial review procedures established under Doe v. Poritz, supra, 142 N.J. at 83-84, 679 A. 2d at 1158-1159. Under that case, before a Tier Two or Tier Three classification is implemented, a court must review the correctness of the level and manner of notification selected by the prosecutor. The State, which has the burden of going forward with prima facie evidence that justifies the proposed level and manner of notification, may use the tier classification suggested by the Scale in making out its case. However, tier classifications based on the Scale are subject to judicial review and modification on a case-by-case basis. Because it is impossible to create an all-inclusive scale, any classification based on the Scale should not be viewed as absolute. Although the Scale provides a useful guide for the prosecutors and courts to evaluate risk of re-offense there is still a value judgment that must be made when determining a registrant's risk of re-offense and proper classification. In most cases, we expect that the tier classification suggested by the Scale will be the same classification recommended by the prosecutor and approved by the court. However, there may be cases in which the registrant presents subjective criteria that would support a court not relying on the tier classification recommended by the Scale. In those cases, we do not expect the court to blindly follow the numerical calculation provided by the Scale, but rather to enter the appropriate tier classification. We recognize that subjective accomplishments, such as an individual registrant's positive response to treatment, may warrant a lower classification than the Scale recommends. However, we believe that those determinations are best made on a case-by-case basis within the discretion of the court. If after reviewing the State's prima facie case, the trial court is concerned that the proposed tier classification may be inappropriate, the court can, if necessary, secure its own subjective evaluations, appoint its own experts, and order further submission of documentation by the prosecutor. Any classification that is inconsistent with the classification based on the Scale is subject to judicial review by either side through appeal and any finding will have to be supported on the record. Therefore, the court's findings of the appropriate tier classification and manner of notification should be clearly set forth in the record.