Megan's Law & Sex Offender Information

Ventura Police Department registers and tracks approximately 220 sex offenders for the City of Ventura. Registered sex offenders are required to update their information annually, within 5 working days of their birthday. Transients (homeless) must update every 30 days, sexually violent predators every 90 days, and any time a registrant changes their address or becomes homeless. If the registrant is in violation of the update requirements, the Internet website will show the registrant as being in violation.

California Penal Code 290 requires mandatory registration as a sex offender for persons convicted of the sex offense listed in Section PC 290(a)2(A) through PC 290(a)2(E). Even if the offense is not listed in these sections, the person may be ordered by a court to register as a sex offender if the criminal offense committed was sexually motivated. Section 290 applies automatically to the enumerated offenses, and imposes on each person convicted a lifelong obligation to register.

Megan’s Law Website provides the citizen with a photo of the sex offender, physical descriptors, addresses (in most cases), convicted sex offenses, scars, marks and tattoos, and known aliases and parks, schools and a map of up to a 2 mile radius search. Not every registered sex offender will appear on the Internet website. Approximately 25% of registered sex offenders are excluded from public disclosure by law. This is based on the type of sex crime for which the person is required to register. Any person who is required to register as a sex offender is prohibited from entering the Megan’s Law Website.

Resources

• State of California Megan's Law
• Sex Offender Registry for other states.