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Friends of the Fourth
District:
An important tool we can use to keep our children safe is in
jeopardy. Megan’s Law, which allows law enforcement agencies to
share the whereabouts of registered sex offenders with the
community, will expire without legislative intervention at the end
of this year. Although several attempts have been made, partisan
politics have effectively killed legislation to extend Megan’s Law
indefinitely.
California has nearly 100,000 registered sex offenders. They live in
our neighborhoods, next door, and across the street. Registered sex
offenders live in every community. In Los Angeles County alone,
there are over 16,000 registered sex offenders. For the safety of
our children, we have a right to know where they are.
Megan’s Law became law in California on July 1, 1995. Since then
concerned citizens have been able to obtain a registered sex
offenders name, physical description, age and zip code. Last March
the U.S. Supreme Court ruled states could release all information
regarding sex offenders over the internet including exact work and
residential addresses. This landmark decision resolved all legal
obstacles to full disclosure.
The Board of Supervisors joined with me in calling on state elected
officials to act quickly in a bi-partisan fashion to pass
legislation to keep Megan’s Law on the books. I have also asked that
all information, including exact addresses, be placed on the
internet.
To those who say this law violates a sexual predator’s right to
privacy, I say they lost those rights the day they violated a child.
This information should be at the fingertips of every parent,
grandparent, aunt, uncle and concerned citizen. To find out if a
registered sex offender lives in your neighborhood, please go to
http://gismap.co.la.ca.us/sols/default.htm for more information.
DON KNABE
Supervisor, Fourth District
County of Los Angeles
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