Megan's Law • Megan's Law
    Los Angeles Sex Crimes Defense Attorney

  

Megan’s Law
Every state has a Megan’s Law. In California, Megan’s Law:

  • Requires convicted sex offenders to register with their local law enforcement agency, and
  • Makes it possible for people to get information about the identity and address of registered sex offenders. For access to the California Megan's Law internet registered sex offender database, click here.

Who Has to Register?
People who have been convicted of certain sex offenses, including:

  • Sexual battery
  • Rape
  • Kidnapping or assaulting a person to commit rape, sodomy, lewd or lascivious acts, or oral copulation
  • Prostitution involving a minor
  • Sexual acts with a child under the age of 14
  • Incest
  • Sodomy with without consent or with a minor
  • Possessing child pornography
  • Indecent Exposure (Cal. Penal Code §§ 290(a)(2)(A)-(E))

Juveniles also have to register as sex offenders if they commit similar crimes. However, if the crime was handled in juvenile court, the registration information cannot be disclosed to the public unless the juvenile is a threat to the community.

When Does a Sex Offender Have to Register?
In California, sex offenders have to register within five days of being released from prison and then any time they change their address or name. They also have to update their registration information every year. Some sex offenders (e.g., sexually violent predators) have to update their registration more often. Deliberately failing to register is a felony. Most sex offenders must continue to register throughout their entire lives.

What Information Is Available Online About Registered Sex Offenders?
The California Megan's Law Internet database currently contains information about more than 76,000 registered sex offenders. The location of sex offenders can be obtained by entering a name, address, city, county, zip code, school or park location. The sex offender information includes:

  • Name and aliases
  • Age, date of birth and gender
  • Physical description, including height, weight eye and hair color, scars, marks and tattoos
  • Photograph (when available)
  • The crimes resulting in registration
  • County of residence and zip code of residence
  • Address (available depending on the type of crime.)

For access to the California Megan's Law online registered sex offender database, click here.

Are all California Sex Offenders in the Internet Database?
No. Approximately twenty percent of registered sex offenders are not in the internet database. Offenders who have been convicted of certain crimes can request to be excluded. The databases available at local police stations contain information about the offenders who are not in the internet database. To find your local police station, click here.

Who was Megan?
Megan's Law is named after Megan Kanka. When Megan was seven years old, she was brutally raped and murdered by a convicted child molester who lived across the street from her. Her parents never knew they had a sex offender for a neighbor until after Megan’s death. Following the tragedy, Megan’s parents fought to have a law passed that would keep other parents from suffering the same circumstances.

Additional Registered Sex Offender Resources
To find a registered sex offender anywhere in the United States, click here

To find a registered sex offender in a particular state, click here

To find answers to frequently asked questions about California Megan’s Law, click here

For tips on how to keep children protected from sexual predators, click here

 

Law Office of Stephen G. Rodriguez
633 West 5th Street
26th Floor
Las Angeles, California 90071

Telephone
(213) 223-2173

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