California Registration Requirements for People Convicted of Sex Crimes
Even after serving one’s sentence, many people who have been convicted of a sex offense in California must register with the state as a sex offender. Under the registration law, known as Megan’s Law, people convicted of sex crimes may be required to provide their addresses and other personal information to local law enforcement agencies, and some of that information may be available on a publicly available Internet registry. However, the law prohibits the use of a registrant’s personal information to harass or commit a crime against the individual.
Registration Requirements Under California’s Megan’s Law
California’s sex offender registration law has been in effect since 1996. The law requires people convicted of certain sex offenses to provide information such as their address to local law enforcement agencies. Once a person has registered, which must be done in person, the local agency sends the information to the California Department of Justice for entry into a database. For many people, this information is then made available to the public on the Internet or by inquiring at a local police station.
California’s sex offender registration law requires individuals to provide their:
- Full name and any aliases
- Offense of conviction
- Home and school address
- Birth date
- Height and weight
- Eye and hair color
- Ethnicity
- Any identifying scars, marks or tattoos
Updates are Required
Registrants must update their information annually, even if nothing has changed. It is also necessary to update one’s registration within five days after moving of if a person changes his or her name. People with no permanent address are required to check in with law enforcement where they are located at the time every 30 days. Failing to register or update as required is a felony offense.
Because the consequences of a sex crime conviction can be so significant, if you are accused of or under investigation for an alleged sex offense, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to begin your defense.