| In 1995, a convicted child molester
was arrested for the murder and rape of 7 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 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. |