Megan’s Law
After the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl (Megan Kanka) in 1994, the federal government enforced a broad-based notification system, alerting individuals of sex offenders in their respective neighborhoods. There are two components to this law, entitled Megan’s Law: sex offender registration and community notification. This law was expended in 2006 by President Bush, signing the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, which brought forth a public Internet database that allows users to localize their search.
If an individual is charged with a sexually-based crime, he or she may be at risk for inclusion in this database, making it extremely difficult to maintain individual privacy in his or her specific neighborhood. One way to help prevent this from happening is by hiring an experienced lawyer to help defend you in a court of law against your charges. To learn more about your legal rights following a sex crime charge, contact the Milwaukee criminal defense lawyers of Hart Powell, S.C. at (414) 271-9595 today.
Available Sex Offender Information
In that state of Wisconsin, the following information is available regarding the sex offender database:
- Sex offenders who were charged on or after 12/25/93 must register, even if they have been discharged or placed on field supervision.
- People must register for 15 years if they have had one conviction, or for life if they have had more than one conviction.
- Certain crimes require life registration. Details are outlined on WI Statue 301.45.
- Individuals must verify their registry information every 90 days.
- If you do not comply with the guidelines of this request, you could be subject to a $10,000 and jail time of no more than 6 years.
In addition to providing your identifying information, sex offenders are required to provide their address and place of employment, as well. This lack of privacy is very disconcerting to many individuals so it is important to defend yourself from this charge in the most effective manner possible. If you have been recently accused of a sex crime, consider hiring an experienced attorney to represent you and increase your chances of a favorable result in court.
Contact Us
To learn more about Megan’s Law and the sex offender database, or to receive a consultation regarding your individual case, contact the Milwaukee criminal lawyers of Hart Powell, S.C. at (414) 271-9595 today.