Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: Megan's Law Application

Thank you for your inquiry. To briefly answer your questions in the order stated:

1. In 1947, California became the first state in the nation to establish laws requiring the registration of convicted sex offenders. The registration process was virtually unchanged until 1986 when new registration requirements were applied to juveniles. Since the mid 1990s, a number of legislative mandates have significantly reshaped California�s sex registration requirements, calling for sex offenders to register more often and to provide more detailed information. Most of these changes were prompted by the May 1996 enactment of the federal Megan�s Law. Four months later California enacted its Megan�s Law which provides the public with photographs and descriptive information on serious sex offenders residing in California who have been convicted of committing sex crimes and are required to register their whereabouts with local law enforcement.

2. Yes. See above, and also see California Penal Code section 290.

3. Maybe. The legality of ex post facto sexual registration is currently on the Supreme Court docket for decision. This is different than the Supreme Court decision regarding prosecuting cases beyond the statute of limitations however.

4. This question asks for an opinion, and I agree with your opinion that continuous registration is not consistent with obtaining a "clean slate", whatever that means.

I hope this helps, but if you have any further questions, desire additional information, or feel that you need legal representation, please feel free to email me directly at [email protected]. I am happy to help in any way that I can.