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1. What is Megan's Law?

In short, Megan’s Law allows the public access to information about the identity of registered sex offenders and allows law enforcement agencies to notify communities of the presence of sex offenders (under certain circumstances.) This law was named in honor of Megan Kanka, a 7 year old girl from Hamilton Township New Jersey who was raped and murdered by a twice-convicted child molester who was unknown in Megan’s neighborhood.

Megans Law at CA.Gov

2. What is a sex offender?

A sex offender is a person who has been convicted of a sex related criminal offense. State law requires convicted sex offenders to register with local police departments by providing their current place of residence and other information.

Megans Law at CA.GOV

3. What is Sex Offender Registration?

Once convicted, 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.

Generally, the registration requirement is a lifetime requirement. During annual registrations, the registered sex offender is required to verify his or her name and address or temporary location. Failure to register may be a felony and may count as a "Third Strike".

4. What does 290 PC mean?

290 PC refers to California Penal Code Section 290. The law requires sex offender registration. Section 290 of the California Penal Code requires people convicted of certain sexual offenses to register with the local law enforcement agency responsible for the jurisdiction in which they reside within 5 working days of their birthday, and within 5 working days of changing their address. This is a requirement for the rest of their lives. If they fail to register on time, they are in violation of the law. If they fail to notify their local police agency when they move in or out of the city, they are in violation of the law. If they provide false or deceptive information about where they are living, they are in violation of the law.

5. What is the Difference between Serious and High Risk Offenders?

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 the assessment, there must have been specified criminal activity within the past five years, not counting time in custody. The criteria for "high-risk" sex offenders is provided in Penal Code Section 290(n).

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 by force; continuous sexual abuse of a child; child molestation; penetration with a foreign object by force; kidnapping 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.

"Other" sex offenders are required to register, but are not subject to public disclosure under Megan's Law. This category usually involves misdemeanor convictions for such offenses as possession of child pornography, exhibitionism, sexual battery, incest or spousal rape. Additionally, sex offenders adjudicated in juvenile court are not subject to public disclosure.

6. How Do I View More Detailed Megan's Law Information?

Detailed Megan's Law information is free and available for public viewing, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, at the Mariposa County Sheriff's Department, 4963 10th Street, Mariposa or Station #1, 10459 Fiske Road, Greeley Hill. You must bring a valid California Driver's License or valid California Identification card. You may contact the Mariposa County Sheriff's Department for further information.

An alternative to visiting the Sheriff's Department is the California Department of Justice Identification Line at 1-(900) 448-3000. The cost is $10.00 per call for information on two subjects. Your phone number will be recorded and you will be charged automatically. Hours are Monday - Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

When you call, you may find out if someone you know is one of California's registered sex offenders. To have access to this information, you must be 18 years or older, will be asked to identify yourself, and must have reasonable suspicion that a child is at risk. You will need the subject's name and address, or birth date, or Social Security information. You need to provide the person's name and at least five of the following: height, weight, hair color, eye color, ethnicity/race, description of scars, tattoos, or birthmarks. For more information contact the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Criminal Information and Analysis, P. O. Box 903387, Sacramento, CA 94203-3870.

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7. What Will This More Detailed Information Provide?

The Megan's Law directory will provide the names, physical descriptions, photographs, conviction offense, and ZIP code of residence for all registered sex offenders currently registered within California.

Megan's Law data can only be searched by entering the name of an offender, or a ZIP code. For example, if you type in the name of a sex offender, all the above information for that offender will be displayed. If you type in a ZIP code, the above information for all offenders residing within that ZIP code will be displayed. By law, the residential address of registered sex offenders is NOT public information.

8. Is the Information Available from My Local Law Enforcement Agency 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 Megan's Law data 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.

9. What Information Do I Need to View the Megan's Law Data?

To view Megan's Law data at the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, you must be over 18 years of age and provide a valid California Driver License or Identification card. If you are under 18 years of age, you must be accompanied by an adult who is eligible to access the directory.

If you intend to access information through the California DOJ Child Molester Identification Hotline, you must be 18 years or older. You will be asked to identify yourself, and must have reasonable suspicion that a child is at risk. You will need the subject's name and address, or birth date, or Social Security information. You need to provide the person's name and at least five of the following: height, weight, hair color, eye color, ethnicity/race, description of scars, tattoos, or birthmarks.

10. If I Have an Address Where I Suspect an Offender Lives, Can the Megan's Law Data Confirm My Suspicion?

No. Under current California law, the residential address of a sex offender is NOT public information. You will only be able to search Megan's Law data by providing the name of the offender, or by viewing all of the offenders in a particular ZIP code.

11. When Are Sex Offenders Required to Register?

Among many other requirements, 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.

12. Is it a Crime if a Sex Offender Does Not Register

Yes. If a sex offender fails to register in accordance with PC 290, they are guilty of a crime. If the offender was originally convicted of a misdemeanor offense, then their first violation is a misdemeanor offense. Any subsequent conviction for failing to register will be charged as a felony. The violator will be subject to incarceration in the state prison for a period of 16 months, 2 or 3 years. An offender, who fails to register as the result of a felony conviction, is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment for 16 months, 2 or 3 years. The Mariposa County Sheriff's Department actively pursues offenders who have failed to register and conducts periodic checks to assure offenders are registered at the proper address. Any violations discovered are handled swiftly and result in the arrest and/or prosecution of the violator.

13. I Know of a Sex Offender Who Did Not Register When He/She Recently Moved to a New Location. What Should I Do?

Do not contact the offender. You should immediately contact the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction in that area. Please be prepared to provide as much information regarding the offender as possible, including name, physical description (race, height, weight, hair/eye color and distinguishing marks/tattoos) and their current location.