Most of our readers probably know that California, like all other states, has a sex offender registry. However, there are many people who don't know much about what this registry is and what type of information is available for public view.
Convicted sex offenders in California have been required to contact local law enforcement agencies with their home address information for about the last 65 years. However, with the sex offender registry, that information is now available to the public.
So, what kind of information can the public view about a convicted sex offender on the registry? Well, as it turns out, there is actually quite a bit of information. First, the public can generally view exactly what type of sex crime charge an offender has on their record, which will be felonies in most cases. Next, there is usually some information about the sentence that was served. But, perhaps most importantly, an offender listed on the sex offender registry is required to list their home address.
In California, the sex offender registry is linked to the so-called "Megan's Law," which is the case in most states. The law takes its name from a tragic case that occurred in New Jersey, in which a 7-year-old girl named Megan was raped and killed by a convicted sex offender who had moved into the home across the street. The fact that this individual was a convicted sex offender was not known to the other residents of the neighborhood. For sex offenders in California and throughout the country, being listed on the sex offender registry now means that a lot of information will be made available to anyone who cares to look.