Ocean County officials are proud to announce the launch of the Ocean County Special Needs Registry.
Effective March 1, the Ocean County Special Needs Registry will be available to all citizens with special needs who reside, attend school, or are employed in Ocean County.
The goal of the Special Needs Registry is to ensure all Ocean County residents who may be in need of special assistance are able to get the help and support they need in a time of emergency or during interaction with Law Enforcement, Fire, or EMS personnel.
Through the website, which can be found at www.OCSNRNJ.com, Ocean County residents will be able to register themselves or any family members living in their home who may have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities due to a physical and/or intellectual disability.
The registry will provide first responders with vital information regarding a registrant's special needs, emergency contact information, physical description, and current photograph.
Information provided through registration is confidential and will only be shared with law enforcement and first responders during an emergency or for the purpose of planning an emergency response.
Each registrant will be provided with two window decals that can be placed on the front entrance of the registrant's residence as well as on the window of any vehicle in which they regularly travel.
The presence of the OCSNR decal signifies to first responders that someone in the residence or vehicle has some degree of special need and that they should respond accordingly. The use of the decals is voluntary.
The Ocean County Special Needs Registry is a collaborative effort between the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the Ocean County Sheriff's Department and the Ocean County Police Chiefs Association.
Special thanks to the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and the Ocean County Office of Information and Technology for their collective assistance and support for this initiative.
"This collaborative effort is designed to assist our law enforcement officers and first responders with critical knowledge regarding impending interaction with citizens of the communities they serve," Prosecutor Billhimer said.
"The more our officers and first responders know on their way to a call or on a motor vehicle stop, the higher the likelihood is of a more positive interaction – for the officer and for the citizen."
"The Ocean County Sheriff's Office thanks the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office for initiating this program to protect those who might be most vulnerable in our county," Sheriff Mastronardy said.
"The Prosecutors Office, Sheriff's Office and Ocean County Police Chiefs will continue to work together and are committed to protecting all our residents."