The brutal 1994 rape and murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka prompted a public
demand for broad based community notification of the location of known sexual
predators. On May 17, 1996,
President Clinton signed “Megan’s Law”. Soon thereafter,
Louisiana enacted sexual predator and sex offender
registration and notification laws.
Megan’s Law requires the following two components:
1. Sex Offender
Registration
2. Community Notification
Megan’s Law allows States to establish criteria for disclosure and compels them
to make private and personal information on registered sex offenders available
to the public. The primary responsibility
of keeping track of sex offenders and child predators located in
Louisiana lies with the Louisiana State Police. You can learn more about the program and
limitations placed on sex offenders at the Louisiana State Police Website
http://www.lsp.org/socpr/default.html
.
As a community service, the JPSO has teamed with the Louisiana State Police and
OffenderWatch® to provide the citizens of Jefferson Parish with a quick
and easy way to identify any sex offenders who may be residing near their home. You may confidentially register as a
user and we will update you with information on any addresses you may be
concerned about. TThis service is
provided to you free of charge.
Click here
for access to the JPSO Sex Offender portal
page
BASIC OVERVIEW OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Who must register?
If convicted of a sex offense after July 1, 1997, the statute’s effective date,
the offender must register with State Police, the Sheriff’s Office or the local
police department. If the offender
committed a sex offense on or after June 18, 1992, he or she must register with
the Sheriff’s Office or local police department.
Information Collected
Name and any aliases used by the offender; Address of offender’s place of
residence upon release from confinement; Crime for which the offender was
convicted and entire criminal history; Date and place of conviction; SSN;
Photograph; Fingerprints; Other such information needed to carry out the
purposes of the law.
Additional Requirements
The offender must register within 21 days of release from prison or within 10
days of entering Louisiana
or changing his or her address. The
requirement for registration lasts for 10 years or, in the case of violent
predators, the requirement is lifetime.