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IDENTIFY IN YOUR AREA AT THE CLICK OF A BUTTON

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY

Submit your Zip Code to view Offenders close to your Family

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Inspired by the tragic and senseless death of Megan Kanka, the goal of MegansLawInfo is to provide information and assist parents about the potential threats sexual predators and registered sex offenders pose to our children. MegansLawInfo.com is not associated with any government agency or department.

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

We expressly disclaim any and all representations and warranties that any of the providers featured on this site comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15USC 1681 et seq.,("FCRA") and/or any other similarly situated local, state or federal law governing the requisition, performance and/or disclosure of background checks. In addition, use of any background information (whether in connection with credit eligibility reviews or otherwise) must similarly comply with applicable laws and regulations.

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About Megan's Law Info | Information about Registered Sex Offenders

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Submit your Zip Code to view Offenders close to your Family Powered by Kids Live Safe I agree to Kids Live Safe's Terms of Use. Inspired by the tragic and senseless death of Megan Kanka, the goal of MegansLawInfo is to provide information and assist parents about the potential threats sexual predators and registered sex offenders pose to our children.

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Identify Registered Sex Offenders Near You

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Identify Registered Sex Offenders Near You

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IDENTIFY IN YOUR AREA AT THE CLICK OF A BUTTON

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY

Submit your Zip Code to view Offenders close to your Family

Powered by Kids Live Safe

I agree to Kids Live Safe's Terms of Use.

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

We expressly disclaim any and all representations and warranties that any of the providers featured on this site comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15USC 1681 et seq.,("FCRA") and/or any other similarly situated local, state or federal law governing the requisition, performance and/or disclosure of background checks. In addition, use of any background information (whether in connection with credit eligibility reviews or otherwise) must similarly comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Advertising Disclosure

MegansLawInfo.com is a free online resource that strives to offer helpful content and resources to its visitors. This Site has a relationship with the featured third party company, which may impact the recommendations made on the site.

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Sex Offender Data by State: Identify Registered Sex Offenders Near You

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Submit your Zip Code to view Offenders close to your Family Powered by Kids Live Safe I agree to Kids Live Safe's Terms of Use.

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IDENTIFY IN YOUR AREA AT THE CLICK OF A BUTTON

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY

Submit your Zip Code to view Offenders close to your Family

Powered by Kids Live Safe

I agree to Kids Live Safe's Terms of Use.

Powered by Kids Live Safe

1. Tell your children that no adult should touch them in a way that makes them uncomfortable and it is wrong for adults to touch their private parts.

2. Make your child feel safe and comfortable telling you anything, especially if it involves another adult. If your child does not feel comfortable being completely honest with you, then together you should find another trusted adult your child can talk to in confidence.

3. Teach your children about their bodies, give them the correct language to use when describing their private parts. Emphasize that those parts are private.

4. Encourage your children to say NO to any unwelcome, uncomfortable, or confusing touch or actions by others. Teach them to tell you immediately if this happens. Reassure them that you are there to help and it is okay to tell you anything.

5. Get to know the people with whom your child is spending time.

6. Know where your children are at all times. Know your children's friends and be clear with your children about the places and homes they may visit. Make it a rule that your children check in with you when they arrive at or depart from a particular location and when there is a change in plans. And be consistent, you should let them know when YOU are running late or if your plans change. This will help them see that the rule is for safety purposes and not being used to "check up" on them.

7. Be involved in your children's activities because you will have a better opportunity to watch the adults in charge interact with your children. If you have concerns don't hesitate to address them with the activity's organization.

8. Do background checks on caregivers and screen babysitters. There are many Internet resources that allow parents to screen individuals for prior criminal records and sex offenses. Check with other families who have used the caregiver or babysitter. When using a new sitter or caregiver make the effort to drop in unexpectedly to see how your children are doing. Ask your children about the caregiver and listen carefully.

9. Never leave your children alone in an automobile. Ever. Don't leave your child in an automobile with other people that you do not explicitly trust, as the potential dangers to their safety outweigh the convenience.

10. Remind children to not approach a car or talk with anyone in a car who they do not know or trust. Tell your children that adults should not ask children for directions or for help. If this happens, tell your children to calmly look for the nearest group of people and walk toward them until the car leaves the area.

11. Listen to your children and pay attention if they tell you that they do not want to be with someone or go somewhere. This may be an indication of more than just a personality conflict or lack of interest in the activity or event.

12. Notice when someone shows your children a great deal of attention or begins giving them gifts. Take the time to talk to your children about this person.

13. Be sensitive to any changes in your children's behavior or attitude. Look and listen to small cues and clues that something may be troubling your children, because they are typically uncomfortable disclosing disturbing events or feelings.

14. If your children do confide problems to you, strive to be nonjudgmental and calm. Be compassionate, listen to their concern and work with them to get any help they may need.

15. Practice safety skills with your children. Go to mall or a park and create a "teachable" experience in which your children can practice checking with you, going to the restroom with a friend, and locating an adult who can help if they need assistance.

16. Allowing your children to wear clothing or carry items in public on which their name is displayed can bring about unwelcome attention from inappropriate people who may be looking for a way to start a conversation with your children.

17. If you must leave your children alone in your home for any period, instruct them to not answer the door or speak with the person through the door. Tell them to ignore a knock on the door or the doorbell ringing. Whoever is stopping by will leave a note or return if it is truly imporant.

18. Teach your children to not give out their name to strangers on the phone. If they are alone and they have your permission to answer the phone, have your children tell unknown callers that their parents can't come to the phone right now and that the caller can call later. Practice this script:

Your child: Hello.
Caller: Hi, who am I speaking with?
Your child: How may I help you?
Caller: I'd like to know your name.
Your child: My mom and dad can't come to the phone right now, but you can call back.
Caller: How soon can I call back? And you still haven't told me your name.
Your child: Thanks for calling. Good bye (and instruct your child to hang up).

19. Remember that there is no substitute for your attention and supervision. Being available and taking time to really know and listen to your children helps build feelings of safety and security.

20. Practice and review the previous 19 tips to keep your children safe from sexual predators.

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

We expressly disclaim any and all representations and warranties that any of the providers featured on this site comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15USC 1681 et seq.,("FCRA") and/or any other similarly situated local, state or federal law governing the requisition, performance and/or disclosure of background checks. In addition, use of any background information (whether in connection with credit eligibility reviews or otherwise) must similarly comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Advertising Disclosure

MegansLawInfo.com is a free online resource that strives to offer helpful content and resources to its visitors. This Site has a relationship with the featured third party company, which may impact the recommendations made on the site.

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20 Safety Tips to Keep Your Children Safe From Sexual Predators

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Submit your Zip Code to view Offenders close to your Family Powered by Kids Live Safe I agree to Kids Live Safe's Terms of Use. Powered by Kids Live Safe Tell your children that no adult should touch them in a way that makes them uncomfortable and it is wrong for adults to touch their private parts.

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The Law

Megan's Law, signed into law by President Clinton in 1996, extended the Sexual Offender (Jacob Wetterling) Act of 1994 that required persons convicted of sex crimes against children to notify local law enforcement of any change of address or employment after release from custody.

With the Jacob Wetterling Act states have the discretion to disseminate registration information to the public, but dissemination was not required. That changed with Megan's Law.

Megan's Law required law enforcement agencies to release information about registered sex offenders that law enforcement deems relevant to protecting the public.

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Megan's Law:

assists law enforcement in investigations,

establishes legal grounds to hold known offenders,

deters sex offenders from committing new offenses and

offers citizens information they can use to protect children from victimization.

While the contents of state sex offender registries are public records and you have the right to see them, access is often difficult. Often, you must know the name of the individual for which you are looking and, in many states, you must go to your local police station and complete an information request form. In some states, there are fees and search limits. Many states now maintain web sites, but these often have limited functionality.

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Megan's Law, signed into law by President Clinton in 1996, extended the Sexual Offender (Jacob Wetterling) Act of 1994 that required persons convicted of sex crimes against children to notify local law enforcement of any change of address or employment after release from custody.

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Megan's Law: A senseless death that should never be repeated

On Friday July 29, 1994 in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, seven year old Megan Kanka was raped and murdered by a neighbor. The neighbor was a registered sex offender when he moved across the street from Megan and her family, however the Kanka family had no idea their neighbor was a threat to their safety.

The neighbor, 33 year old Jesse Timmendequas, had two previous convictions for sexually assaulting young girls. In 1979 he pleaded guilty to the attempted aggravated sexual assault of a five-year-old girl in Piscataway Township, New Jersey. He was given a suspended sentence but, after failing to go to counseling, he was sent for nine months to the Middlesex Adult Correctional Center. In 1981, Timmendequas pleaded guilty in regards to the assault of a seven-year-old girl, and was imprisoned at the Adult Diagnostic & Treatment Center (ADTC) in Avenel, New Jersey for six years.

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Timmendequas lured Megan into his house by offering to show her a puppy. Megan was raped and strangled to death. Timmendequas moved Megan's body to his truck, placing her in a wooden toy chest and dumping it in nearby Mercer County Park. The next day, he confessed to investigators and led police to the site.

The court sentenced Timmendequas to death, and the sentence was upheld by the New Jersey Supreme Court on appeal.

Timmendequas remained on New Jersey's Death Row until December 17, 2007, when the New Jersey Legislature abolished the state's death penalty. This ban resulted in Timmendequas's sentence being commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In the wake of the tragedy, the Kankas sought to have local communities warned about sex offenders in the area. Their efforts eventually lead Megan's Law, an act of congress that was signed into law by President Clinton in 1996. All states now have a form of Megan's Law.

Read more about the law.

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On Friday July 29, 1994 in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, seven year old Megan Kanka was raped and murdered by a neighbor. The neighbor was a registered sex offender when he moved across the street from Megan and her family, however the Kanka family had no idea their neighbor was a threat to their safety.

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Megan's Law Info: Knowledge to Keep Your Children Safe From Sexual Offenders

Who is Megan?

Megan's Law is named after seven-year-old Megan Kanka, a New Jersey girl who was raped and killed by a known registered sex offender who had moved across the street from the family without their knowledge. In the wake of the tragedy, the Kankas sought to have local communities warned about sex offenders in the area. Read her story.

The Law

The U.S. Congress has passed several laws that require states to implement sex offender and crimes against children registries: the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act, the Pam Lychner Sexual Offender Tracking and Identification Act, and Megan's Law. On March 5, 2003, the United States Supreme Court ruled that information about potential predators may be publicly posted on the Internet. All states now have a form of Megan's Law. Read more about the law.

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The Challenge

Thanks to Megan's Law state sex offender registries are public records and you have the right to access the information. Accessing sex offender information via each state's registry web site can be challenging because in all but 16 states you must search by specific names of individuals of interest, and in many states you may have to go to your local police station and complete an information request form. In some states, there are fees and search limits.

The Solution

MeganlawInfo.com has team up with Kids Live Safe because they aggregate sex offender records contained in the various state sex offender registries, providing a single database with nationwide coverage. With Kids Live Safe you are not limited to searching by specific name; using state-of-the-art mapping, database, and e-mail notification technologies, Kids Live Safe provides a simple yet extremely powerful suite of products to help you and your family be aware, be alert, and be safe!

Helpful Articles

Disclaimer
MegansLawInfo.com is not associated in any way with the government-run Megan's Law website. The goal behind MegansLawInfo.com is to complement the official site and to provide families with additonal resources to help protect them from sexual predator, offenders, and pedophiles.

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Sexual Offender Search Online: Identify Sex Offenders | Megan's Law Info

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Megan's Law is named after seven-year-old Megan Kanka, a New Jersey girl who was raped and killed by a known registered sex offender who had moved across the street from the family without their knowledge. In the wake of the tragedy, the Kankas sought to have local communities warned about sex offenders in the area.