Megan's Law and Sex Offender Information

California’s Megan’s Law provides the public with certain information on the whereabouts of sex offenders so members of our local communities may protect themselves and their children.

Megan’s Law is named after 7 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. In the wake of the tragedy, the Kanka Family sought to have local communities warned about sex offenders in the area. All states now have a form of Megan’s Law.

The State of California's Department of Justice Sex Offender Tracking Program maintains the registered sex offender database. The database is the basis for the information displayed on the Internet website. By law, persons convicted of specified sex crimes are required to register as sex offenders with a local law enforcement agency. Prior to release from prison, jail, a mental hospital, or on probation, sex offenders are notified in writing of their duty to register and a copy is forwarded to the Department of Justice.

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.

The website also has an email address and phone number for the Department of Justice to report any information about a sex offender. The Department of Justice will forward any information to the proper law enforcement agency that the sex offender is last registered with.

Informational Websites and Phone Numbers

State of California Megan’s Law: www.meganslaw.ca.gov

Sex Offender Registry for other states: www.fbi.gov

Operation Predator: www.ice.gov

Office of the Attorney General: www.oag.ca.gov

Missing Persons / Children websites: California Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit- www.caag.state.ca.us/missing (International missing, most wanted)

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: www.missingkids.com 1(800) THE-LOST

Amber Alert: (800) 222-FIND

National Runaway Switchboard: (800) RUN-AWAY www.nrscrisisline.org

Interface: www.icfs.org (800) 339-9597

Association of Missing and Exploited Children's Organizations: www.amecoinc.org

The CyberTipLine (Child Pornography Tipline): (800) 843-5678

Contacts

Police Services Officer Patrick Furlong
805-339-4473

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4. Elder Safety
5. Home and Neighborhood Safety
6. Identity Theft
7. Internet Safety
8. Parking Ticket Prevention
9. Scams/Fraud
10. Self-Storage Burglary Prevention Tips
11. Megan's Law and Sex Offender Information
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