WCPD Home > Protecting Yourself > Megan's Law

Megan's Law Information

In response to the murder of 7-year-old Megan Kanka by a convicted sex offender living in her neighborhood, in 1996, California enacted "Megan's Law."

This law provides for the ability for police to notify neighborhoods and residents of the existence of serious and high risk sex offenders, and further provides for public access to sex offender information under controlled circumstances. Megan's Law provides three distinct means for the public to become informed of the identity of registered sexual offenders:

• Megan's Law Website
  Individuals can now visit the California Department of Justice Megan's Law website from any internet ready computer. This website contains information on over 63,000 registered offenders located state wide. However, some other sex offenders are not listed on this website or the Sex Offender ID line due to current state law. Generally these are offenders who do not pose a substantial risk to the community.
  
  This website allows you to search by address, city, or by a map of a general area.  See http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/disclaimer.htm to search the website.
   
• Sex Offender Identification Line
  If you are over 18, you may call 1-900-463-0400 and check the names of up to 2 individuals per call. There is a charge of $10 for the call. In order to check if someone is a registered sex offender, you will need their exact name, and either (1) their exact address, OR (2) their exact date of birth, OR (3) their California Driver's License number, their Calif. ID number, or their Social Security Number.
   
• Community Notification
  Under specific circumstances determined by a law enforcement agency and state law, general or specific neighborhood notifications may be made regarding the existence of certain registered sex offenders living in their neighborhoods.

For tips on protecting yourself or your family please visit http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/protect.htm  
 

For additional Megan's Law information, contact WCPD Detective Shawn Wallace of the WCPD Investigations Bureau, visit the Attorney General's web site, or write them at California Department of Justice, P.O. Box 944255, Sacramento, CA., 94244-2550.