Megan's Law
Megan's Law Background
In 1995, a convicted child molester was arrested for the murder and rape of seven-year-old Megan Kanka in a New Jersey suburb. The offender lived right across the street from the Kanka residence; however, the Police Department was prohibited from disclosing the presence of this child molester because, at the time, the law did not allow the release of sex offender information to the public. The law was changed to permit the release of this information to the public, and on May 8, 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the law, dubbed Megan's Law, in remembrance of little Megan Kanka. The California State Legislature signed California's version of Megan's Law into effect on September 25, 1996. This law was implemented to allow potential victims to protect themselves and allow parents to protect their children.
California Developments
The California Attorney General's Office launched a Megan's Law website listing registered sex offenders living in the State of California. Due to a law change (AB488, Parra), the California Attorney General's Office is able to provide the public with very detailed information about sex offenders living in the state. By accessing this website, the public is able to view information:- By general information related to the offender's criminal convictions
- By offender name
- By specific zip code
- By street address
- Via a searchable map application
Additional Child Safety Online Resources
We have identified several websites* that offer information regarding child safety issues. They include:
*Note: Internet links are provided as a matter of public convenience. While we have tried to identify useful sites, you should use your own judgment concerning the validity of the information on these sites. The City of Dublin cannot and does not endorse any third-party websites.