Megan's Law

A new California law, Assembly Bill 488, sponsored by the Attorney General now provides the public with Internet access to detailed information on registered sex offenders.

With the new law in place the public is able to access for the first time a list and information on sex offenders required to register with local law enforcement from their personal computers. California's Megan's Law provides the public with certain information on the whereabouts of sex offenders so that members of our local communities may protect themselves and their children.

According to meganslaw.ca.gov, the information was available only by personally visiting police stations and sheriff offices or by calling a 900 toll-number before. The new law was given final passage by the Legislature on August 24, 2004 and signed by the Governor on September 24, 2004.

Megan's Law is named after seven-year-old Megan Kanka, a New Jersey girl who was raped and killed by a known child molester who had moved across the street from the family without their knowledge. Since then the family memebers, Kankas, have worked hard to have local communities warned about sex offenders in the area and now all states now have a form of Megan's Law.

According to Megan's Law website, the new law has made the site able to provide you with access to information on more than 63,000 persons required to register in California as sex offenders. Specific home addresses are displayed on more than 33,500 offenders in the California communities; as to these persons, the site displays the last registered address reported by the offender. An additional 30,500 offenders are included on the site with listing by ZIP Code, city, and county. Information on approximately 22,000 other offenders is not included on this site, but is known to law enforcement personnel.

Officer Christina Burhans of the San Diego police department said, "The community plays a role in monitoring sex offenders. Following the State of California's passage of Megan's Law on May 17, 1996, information on sex offenders was made available to the public. Members of the community are encouraged to view the Megan's Law website by visiting."