California's Megan's Law: New Limits, New Laws

California's Megan's Law, enacted in 1996, allows law enforcement agencies to disclose information about serious and high-risk sex offenders to the public. The law was set to expire on January 1, 2001, but was extended by three years through a bill, AB 1340, signed by the Governor. Megan's Law is named after seven-year-old Megan Kanka, who was raped and murdered by a known registered sex offender living in her neighborhood. The law requires the California Department of Justice to notify the public about specified registered sex offenders, with the aim of protecting communities and their children.

California's Megan's Law

Megan's Law mandates the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) to notify the public about specified registered sex offenders. The law also authorises designated law enforcement entities to notify the public when necessary to ensure public safety. The information is displayed on the California Megan's Law website, and includes registration information provided by offenders to local law enforcement agencies. The website may indicate that some registrants are currently in violation of their registration requirements.

The law was set to expire on January 1, 2001, but was extended for another three years by the bill AB 1340. This bill also allowed children accompanied by a parent or guardian to view the Megan's Law CD-ROM. The CD-ROM was available at police and sheriff's stations, and a "900" telephone number was also provided for members of the public to call for information.

The California Megan's Law website provides information on registered sex offenders, including their name, picture, address, incarceration date, and offence of conviction. This information is provided so that members of local communities can protect themselves and their children.

Public notification

In 1996, the US federal government passed Megan's Law, which requires law enforcement authorities to notify the public about registered sex offenders. The law was enacted following the rape and murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka by a known registered sex offender. Megan's Law also mandates that law enforcement authorities notify the public when necessary to ensure public safety based on an individual's current risk of sexual or violent re-offence.

The law requires persons convicted of sex crimes against children to notify local law enforcement of any change of address or employment after release from custody. The notification requirement may be imposed for a fixed period, usually at least ten years, or permanently.

In California, Megan's Law was enacted in 1996 and mandates the California Department of Justice to notify the public about specified registered sex offenders. The California Sex and Arson Registry is the source of sex offender information displayed on the California Megan's Law website. This database contains registration information provided by offenders to local law enforcement agencies.

The public can access information on registered sex offenders or sexually violent predators/sexually violent delinquent children who are homeless/transient, live, work, or attend school in their community through the Pennsylvania State Police website. The information available includes the offender's name and aliases, address, a physical description, vehicle information, and a description of the offence.

Community notification laws are now commonly associated with sex offender registration laws. Many states provide public access to websites to assist citizens with locating sex offenders who live nearby. State laws vary in the amount and type of information released to the public.

Sex offender registration

California's Megan's Law was enacted in 1996 and requires the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) to notify the public about registered sex offenders. The law is named after Megan Kanka, a seven-year-old girl from New Jersey who was raped and killed by a known registered sex offender. In the wake of the tragedy, Megan's parents worked to change the law by demanding mandatory community notification about sex offenders.

In California, the Sex Offender Registration Act requires people convicted of certain sex crimes and sexually motivated crimes to register as sex offenders. This means registering with their local law enforcement agency annually within 5 days of their birthday and within 5 days of moving residences. Sex offender residency restrictions may also be imposed.

Previously, a conviction for any sex crime in California required lifetime registration. However, as of January 1, 2021, Senate Bill (SB) 384 replaced this requirement with a three-tiered registration system:

• Tier one requires registration as a sex offender for at least 10 years for people convicted of misdemeanour sexual battery or indecent exposure.
• Tier two requires registration for at least 20 years for people convicted of mid-level sex offences, including lewdness with a minor under 14.
• Tier three requires lifetime registration for people convicted of the most serious sex offences, including rape, sex trafficking of children, and repeated sex crimes.

The California Megan's Law website provides the public with information on registered sex offenders, including their names, addresses, and crimes. This information is provided so that community members can protect themselves and their children. The website may also indicate that some registrants are currently in violation of their registration requirements, and members of the public are encouraged to report any information they have on these individuals to local law enforcement.

Sex offender tiering

On October 6, 2017, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the California State Senate Bill 384 (SB 384), implementing a three-tiered sex offender registration system in the state. This law differentiates sex offences by their severity. The law came into effect on January 1, 2021.

The California Department of Justice determines the tier status of registrants. Tier placement is based on criteria outlined in Penal Code 290 and is decided on a case-by-case basis by a judge. The severity of the crime and the number of offences are important factors in deciding which tier a convict belongs to.

Tier 1 includes all misdemeanour sex offences and some non-violent felony sex offences. Tier 1 crimes include indecent exposure, misdemeanour child pornography, misdemeanour oral copulation, and misdemeanour sexual battery. Tier 1 offenders must register for 10 years, or 5 years if they are minors.

Tier 2 includes mid-level felonies that are excluded from Tier 1 and Tier 3. Tier 2 crimes include incest, oral copulation, acts of penetration with a foreign object, and a second separate conviction for annoying a child for sexual purposes. Tier 2 offenders must register for 20 years, or 10 years if they are minors.

Tier 3 includes the most serious sex offences. These include felony possession of child pornography, pimping and pandering of a minor, and many cases of rape. Tier 3 offenders must register for life and are not eligible to petition the court for removal from the sex offender registry.

CD-ROM access for children

CD-ROMs are a great way to educate children in an interactive and engaging manner. In this day and age, when technology is so prevalent, it is important to utilise it as a tool for learning. CD-ROMs can be used to teach children about a variety of subjects, including languages, mathematics, reading and even health-related topics.

One example of a successful educational CD-ROM is "Kidz with Leukemia: A Space Adventure", which was developed to educate children with leukemia, aged 4-11, about their disease and its treatment. The CD-ROM was designed with input from focus groups of children with leukemia, their parents, and healthcare providers. It includes interactive games, videos, animations, and puzzles to engage children and provide them with important information about leukemia.

Another advantage of CD-ROMs is that they allow children to learn at their own pace and choose the type and depth of information they want to acquire. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for children with different learning styles and levels of curiosity. CD-ROMs can also be easily updated with new information, ensuring that children always have access to the most current and accurate knowledge.

In addition to educational CD-ROMs, there are also many entertainment-focused CD-ROMs available for children, such as games and interactive stories. These can be purchased online or at electronics stores. When choosing CD-ROMs for children, it is important to consider their age range, reading level, and interests to ensure the content is engaging and accessible.

While CD-ROMs offer a fun and interactive way to learn, it is worth noting that excessive screen time should be avoided. Balancing CD-ROM usage with other activities, such as outdoor play and social interactions, is important for a well-rounded development.

Frequently asked questions