Megan's Law

For over 50 years, California has required sex offenders to register with their local law enforcement agencies. However, information on the whereabouts of these sex offenders was not available to the public until the implementation of the California Sex Offender Information Line in July 1995.  The available information was expanded by California's Megan's Law in 1996. (Chapter 908, Stats. of 1996).

Megan's Law is named after 7-year-old Megan Kanka, a New Jersey girl who was raped and killed by a known child molester who moved across the street from the family without their knowledge.  In the wake of the tragedy, the Kankas sought to have local communities warned about sex offenders in the area.  Since this incident, states across the nation have enacted different versions of Megan’s Law.  California passed its first version in 1996. 

On December 15, 2004, the DOJ implemented the Megan’s Law Internet Web Site, located at www.meganslaw.ca.gov. The website provides the public with information on more than 63,000 registered sex offenders, including the full addresses of over 33,500 offenders. The address information, which was not previously available to the public, is graphically displayed on maps in relation to the user’s neighborhood, other addresses, parks, and schools.

On the website, offenders are statutorily divided into two display classifications. In accordance with Section 290.46 PC, these display classifications are:

• Full Address - A sex offender in this classification will have his or her full residence address displayed. Generally, Full Address disclosure will occur if the offender has been convicted of any of the following:

• Lewd conduct with a child under the age of 14;

• A sex offense involving force or fear;

• A designated sex crime with a prior or subsequent conviction for a sex crime that required registration; and/or

• An offense resulting in commitment as a SVP as defined in Section 6600 WIC.

• ZIP Code Only - A sex offender in this classification will only be displayed by ZIP Code or area (city, county). As mandated by law, the specific residential addresses will not be displayed on any of the maps. These offenders are required to register and were convicted of an offense(s) subject to public disclosure. However, they do not meet the “Full Address” display classification.

Sex offenders who do not fall into either the “Full Address” or “ZIP Code Only” display classification are, by statute, not disclosed or displayed on the Web Site. In addition, the statute allows certain offenders to apply for and be granted an exclusion from disclosure to the public.

Public Notifications by Law Enforcement Agencies:

Section 290.45 PC was amended to allow LEAs to proactively notify members of the public about any sex offender when it is necessary to ensure public safety, based on the agency’s assessment of the offender’s risk to the community. This includes any offender who is now categorized as “No Post” or “Excluded,” provided that the LEA believes the offender will pose a risk to the community.

The law is not intended to punish the offender and specifically prohibits using the information to harass or commit any crime against the offender.  It recognizes public safety is best served when registered sex offenders are not concealing their location to avoid harassment.