Legal

Can a California Sex Offender Live Near Schools?

2 Mins read

The sex offender laws that are on the books exist as a measure to govern sex offenders’ lives. In many cases, this includes things like where they can live, work, how they have to register and how long, and even where they’re allowed to hang out. Every state is responsible for its own laws, so things can vary drastically from state to state. So, can a California sex offender live next to a school?

California Sex Offender Laws

In the State of California, their sex offender registration laws are informally referred to as Megan’s Law. California sex offenders are required to register for life, and their information is provided on the California Megan’s Law website. All offenders must register within 14 days of entering a county and within 10 days of a change of address. These requirements also apply to out-of-state offenders, both adult, and juvenile. In the first instance of non-compliance, the offender is faced with a misdemeanor and up to a year of potential jail time. Any additional instances of non-compliance are considered a felony and the offender can face 16-36 months of incarceration as well as revocation of their parole if applicable.

The State of California does limit where sex offenders can live. No sex offender can live within 2000 feet of any place that minors regularly congregate. If an offender applies for a job where they would have unrestricted access to children they must let the employer know of their status upfront to ensure that the employer doesn’t hire a sex offender if they don’t want to. This information must be disclosed either when they apply or when they are offered the position.

Finding the Sex offender Registry.

The sex offender registry is considered a public safety tool and as such it’s important that it’s easily accessible to the public. The easiest way to find it is to use a search engine like Google and simply search for the phrase “California sex offender registry.” You should find the official site as the first result, but always be sure to check the URL to make sure you’re where you want to be. Once on the site, you’ll have easy access to all sorts of useful information about sex offenders in your area so you can be sure that you know exactly who may pose a threat to you or your family.

Finding Safety in Your Community. 

As we all know, the world can be a big scary place. Fortunately, there is well-documented information on at least one type of potential threat to your and your family’s safety. The sex offender registry has all the information you need to identify potentially dangerous sex offenders that live in your neighborhoods so you can always be sure that you aren’t subjecting yourself or your children to undue danger. 

***Registered Offenders List is a free online resource that strives to offer helpful content and resources to its visitors regarding registered sex offenders that live near you.