{"id":352022,"date":"2023-09-29T16:49:39","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T21:49:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/community-notification-laws-megan-s-law.html"},"modified":"2023-09-29T16:49:39","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T21:49:39","slug":"community-notification-laws-megan-s-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/community-notification-laws-megan-s-law.html","title":{"rendered":"Community Notification Laws (Megan’s Law)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Community Notification Laws (Megan's Law)<\/h1>\n
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\n By John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Megan’s Law requires states to inform communities about sex offenders living in the neighborhood. The purpose is to help communities stay safe. These notification rules vary from state to state.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

In 1996, Congress amended the Wetterling Act by passing the federal version of "Megan’s Law."  Together, these pieces of legislation aim to improve public safety against repeat sex offenses.<\/p>\n

Community notification laws<\/a> are now commonly associated with sex offender registration laws. Many states provide public access websites to assist citizens with locating sex offenders who live nearby. State laws vary in the amount and type of information released to the public.<\/p>\n

Learn about the history of community notification laws and how they work below. But if you are involved in a sex crime allegation, get advice for your specific situation from a criminal defense lawyer<\/a>.  <\/p>\n

Before Megan’s Law: The Wetterling Act<\/h2>\n

In the wake of a young boy’s kidnapping and murder at the hands of a sexual predator, Congress passed the Jacob Wetterling Act in 1994. This federal law provided law enforcement authorities with the means to track and locate convicted sex offenders. It required states to create sex offender registries and set up registration requirements. The goal was to give local police the ability to access information about sex offenders living in the community.<\/p>\n

The law established a category of offenders called "sexually violent predators." These offenders would register for life and update their addresses<\/a> with the police department every 90 days. It also gave law enforcement the authority to notify the public as needed about the release of certain offenders.<\/p>\n

The Case Behind Megan’s Law<\/h2>\n

In 1994, the rape and murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka by a known sex offender raised public demand for sex offender registration. It also raised a demand for community notification of registration information. Megan died some thirty yards from her own front door in Hamilton Township, New Jersey.<\/p>\n

A neighbor lured the little girl to his house, promising she could see his new puppy. He was a twice-convicted sex offender who had served time in prison. His crimes included attempted sexual assault against a child in 1979 and a second similar offense in 1981.<\/p>\n

Advocates argued that community notification may have prevented Megan’s death. With notification, her family could have learned about the sex offender nearby. They could have kept Megan safe. National momentum grew for improvements to sex offender registration laws. Public safety concerns about child sex crimes led to mandates for community notification.<\/p>\n

Megan’s law directed each state to set up its own community notification system. It mandated the release of certain sex offender information to the public.<\/p>\n

Development of Megan’s Law<\/h2>\n

The outcry over Megan’s death in 1994 spurred the New Jersey Legislature to act. Within three months, New Jersey passed the community notification law known as Megan’s Law. Less than two years later, President Clinton signed a federal version of the law. An amendment to the Wetterling Act, Megan’s Law required each state to provide public notification and information about sexual offenders<\/a> living in the area when needed to protect the public. The resulting state laws became known as Megan’s Laws.<\/p>\n

In New Jersey, the first state to adopt Megan’s Law, the law created the following:<\/p>\n