CALIFORNIA PASSES "MEGAN'S LAW"

By Assistant Chief Randy Rossi, California Department of Justice

As of July 1, 1997, Californians will gain access to photographs and physical descriptions of over 62,000 previously convicted sex registrants. This new program results from the passage of California's version of "Megan's Law," the federal sex offender registration legislation. The KlaasKids Foundation played an active role in passing California's version of this law, which resulted from the murder of little Megan Kanka by a previously convicted child molester.

Photos, Descriptions Now Available to Public
Individuals who have previously been convicted for a felony sex crime or child molest offense are currently required under California law to register with local law enforcement agencies on at least an annual basis. As of July, however, Californians may visit their county sheriff's department or municipal police department to view photographs and physical descriptions by accessing a CD-ROM. They may search the entire state for registrants of concern. Information is segregated by name,county, and zip code, though an exact home address is not disclosed. Virtually every zip code will list scores of individuals - California currently has more than one sex registrant for every 180 adult males.

The California Megan's Law also provides law enforcement officers with the ability to notify the public when they encounter sex registrants who pose a danger to the community. In such instances, officers can provide detailed descriptive information, enabling families and individuals to better protect themselves. These disclosures may be made thousands of times daily as law enforcement officials encounter field situations involving registrants.

Notification on Sex Offenders
Additionally, Megan's law allows law enforcement to proactively notify groups that may be at risk from these sex registrants, including licensed day care facilities, schools, youth organizations, etc. Law enforcement agencies will track and identify when these individuals are within close proximity to at-risk populations and make the appropriate disclosures.

Finally, the California Department of Justice will continue to staff the highly successful Sex Offender Identification Line, allowing the public to access information on sex registrants from the privacy of home. Such information can be obtained by calling 1 (900) 463 - 0400, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Most Comprehensive Law in the Nation
With these new provisions, California now has the most comprehensive sex offender notification law in the nation. However, steps have been taken to discourage vigilanties. Should an individual commit a crime based on information disclosed pursuant to Megan's Law, they will be subject to, in addition to any other penalty imposed, a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000.

With the enactment of Megan' Law, California law enforcement is now able to further its primary role of protecting the public, providing critical information to better protect children from child molesters and adults from felony sex offenders.