(AP) - New Jersey's Supreme Court has struck downordinances that restricted where convicted sex offenders can liveonce they've been released.

Thursday's ruling focused on Galloway and Cherry Hill townshipsbut will affect about 120 other New Jersey towns that have passedsimilar ordinances. They prohibited released sex offenders fromliving within a prescribed distance from schools, parks,playgrounds and other places children congregate.

The Supreme Court upheld a ruling last year that said theordinances conflicted with Megan's Law. The landmark 1994legislation requires released sex offenders to register with lawenforcement and notify authorities when they change addresses.

FamilyWatchdog