Sex Offender & Violent Sex Offender Registry

As a nationwide background provider, Fidelity Information Corporation collects background information nationally, nationwide, all fifty states, and the united states.

Sex Offenders, by law, are required to register in the state they reside in. (See complete legal meaning of Sex Crime) Following is some important information on sex offenders including: Violent Sex Offenders, Registered Sex Offenders, Amber Alert, and Megan's Law.

CALIFORNIA SEX OFFENDER NOTIFICATION

Megan's Law - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the procedure for viewing the Megan's Law CD-ROM?
   
2. Is the information on the Megan's Law CD-ROM accurate?
   
3. Why are local law enforcement agencies assigned the responsibility to determine when to notify the public about a high-risk or serious registered sex offender?
   
4. When are sex offenders required to register with local authorities?
   
5. What is the criteria to be designated a "high-risk" sex offender for which community notice may be given?
   
6. Why isn't this information available on the Internet?
   
   

1. What is the procedure for viewing the Megan's Law CD-ROM?
   
   The public should call their local sheriff or police department to determine the nearest CD-ROM viewing station and local provisions for access to this information. Registered sex offenders are not permitted access to the CD-ROM. In fact, individuals wishing to view the CD-ROM must present a California driver's license or identification card to confirm their identity and sign a statement verifying that they are not a registered sex offender. The viewing is provided by local law enforcement officials who instruct the viewer that the information should only be used for public safety purposes.
   
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2. Is the information on the Megan's Law CD-ROM accurate?
   
   It is estimated that the majority of California's registered sex offenders are in compliance with the registration requirement. However, the zip code listed for some offenders may not be up-to-date where sex offender registrants have failed to comply with California's registration laws.
   
   Since the CD-ROM has been available, the public has helped law enforcement identify offenders who are not registered with the correct address. State agents from the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Investigation, work with local law enforcement to arrest sex offenders who do not comply with registration laws.
   
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3. Why are local law enforcement agencies assigned the responsibility to determine when to notify the public about a high-risk or serious registered sex offender?
   
   Local law enforcement is considered to be in the best position to determine what level and method of notification is appropriate for their community.
   
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4. When are sex offenders required to register with local authorities?
   
   Sex offenders are required to register with local law enforcement agencies within five working days of being released from a local jail or state prison or completion of any alternate sentence. Sex offenders also must re-register every year within five working days of his or her birthday, moving, or changing his or her name.
   
   With few exceptions, the registration requirement is a lifetime mandate. During annual registration, the registered sex offender is required to verify his or her name and address or temporary location. Failure to properly register may be a felony and may count as a "Third Strike" (Penal Code Section 290).
   
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5. What is the criteria to be designated a "high-risk" sex offender for which community notice may be given?
   
   Megan's Law requires the California Department of Justice to distribute a CD-ROM or other electronic medium containing specific information on all "serious" and "high-risk" sex offenders which is updated monthly. Generally, a "high-risk" sex offender is an individual convicted of multiple violent crimes, at least one of which was a violent sex crime. Additionally, at the time of assessment, there must have been specified criminal activity within the last five years, not counting time in custody. The criteria for "high-risk" sex offenders is provided in Penal Code Section 290(n). As of November 1, 1999, there were over 1,550 "high risk" registered sex offenders.
   
   A "serious" sex offender is an individual convicted of at least one of the following charges: assault with intent to commit rape, oral copulation, or sodomy; rape; sodomy with a minor or by force; lewd or lascivious conduct with a child or a dependent adult; oral copulation with a minor or by force; continuous sexual abuse of a child; child molestation; penetration with a foreign object by force; kidnaping with intent to commit specified sex offenses; felony sexual battery; felony enticement of a child for purposes of prostitution; abduction of a child for purposes of prostitution. As of November 1, 1999, there were over 71,000 "serious" registered sex offenders.
   
   "Other" sex offenders are required to register, but are not subject to disclosure under Megan's Law. These other sex offenders are individuals convicted of pornography, exhibitionism (yes, streakers), misdemeanor sexual battery, incest or spousal rape (Specifically PC 262(a)(1)). Additionally, sex offenders adjudicated in juvenile court are not subject to public disclosure. As of November 1, 1999, there were over 12,800 "other" registered sex offenders.
   
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6. Why isn't this information available on the Internet?
   
   Whether the information can be made available on the Internet is still in legal dispute. Megan's Law is intended to prevent further victimization in local communities by making available certain information on the whereabouts of a registered sex offender. The information is available at designed law enforcement offices. The courts have not yet settled whether it is constitutional to disseminate via the Internet information about registered sex offenders beyond the community where they live and work. The federal appellate court having jurisdiction over California (Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals) has indicated such information should be distributed narrowly to areas where the public has a safety interest in receiving information about residents in their area. Placing information on the Internet would provide worldwide access.
   
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