Website For Registered Sex Offenders

Have you ever wondered if someone living in your neighborhood could be a potential threat to your safety or the safety of a family member? To help California citizens locate this very information, Megan's Law was passed on August 24, 2004 and signed by the Governor on September 24, 2004. It required that the California Department of Justice create a website, by July 1, 2005, providing the public with internet access to detailed information on registered sex offenders. The site includes the names, addresses, and pictures of those who have been convicted of specified crimes, as well as their descriptions, criminal history (except unrelated crimes), and other relevant information. It is not required that the victim or the offender's employer be identified. Megan's Law is named after a young girl from New Jersey, Megan Kanka, who, at the age of seven, was raped and killed by a known child molester who had moved across the street from the family without their knowledge. In light of the death of their daughter, her family sought to have local communities warned about sex offenders in the area. All states now have some form of Megan's Law. The law is not intended to punish the offender, but rather to protect members of our local communities and their children. To view the website go to: http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/homepage.htm

Written By Maria Schweitzer