In 1996, California enacted "Megan's Law," which provides the public with photographs and descriptive information on serious and high-risk sex offenders residing in California who have been convicted of committing sex crimes and are required to register their whereabouts with local law enforcement. Legislation recently signed by the governor, AB 488, now requires specific information about persons required to register as sex offenders to be posted on the Attorney General's Internet web site on or before July 1, 2005. This website is now available at:
The site provides detailed information on more than 63,000 registered sex offenders, including those currently incarcerated. State law prohibits the public disclosure of information on roughly 22,000 other sex offender registrants, who are known only to law enforcement. Information provided on the Internet site includes name, aliases, age, gender, race, physical description (including scars, marks and tattoos) and photograph (if available from local law enforcement agencies). The site also contains a description of the criminal convictions that require the individual to register as a sex offender, and the county and zip code where the individual last registered. Viewers can search the new web site by city, county, zip code or individual name. They also can type in the name of a park or school in a community to locate sex offenders living in the vicinity.
Importantly, the site provides home addresses for about 33,500 of the state's most serious sex offenders. These offenders include individuals convicted of committing a lewd act upon a child under the age of 14, or a sex crime that includes the element of force or fear. Home addresses also are provided for persons convicted of two or more sex offenses in separate trials, and those designated by a court as sexually violent predators. A sexually violent predator is defined as an individual who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense against two or more victims, and who has been determined by a court as likely to further engage in sexually violent behavior because of a diagnosed mental disorder.
Additionally, viewers can find out if an individual currently is in custody, or is in violation of their registration requirement, and the date they fell out of compliance. The site also provides tips on how to protect your family and facts about sex offenses and sex offenders.
Information pertaining to other sex offenders registered in Ventura County may be obtained by going in person to the Ventura County Government Center, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Detention Facility Building, Records Counter.