Sex Registration – “Megan’s Law” – CPC 290
If you have been convicted of a California sex offense, you will face perhaps the most devastating and life altering penalties of having to register as a sex offender under California Penal Code Section 290 (also known as the Sex Offender Registration Act) and having your picture and address posted on the Department of Justice (DOJ website pursuant to Megan’s Law. Being accused of a sex crime in California is a very serious matter that demands the immediate attention of a Los Angeles sex crimes lawyer to keep prosecutors from convicting you with an offense that subjects you to this unduly harsh penalty.
However, if you are convicted of a sex offense that requires you to register as a sex offender pursuant to Penal Code 290 or have your picture posted on the DOJ website, you should consult with a Los Angeles Megan’s Law Lawyer as there may be ways to prevent these penalties. Additionally, it is imperative to fully understand what your obligations are and how to abide by them to prevent further penalties.
Megan’s Law
Megan’s Law permits the state to post your picture and address on the DOJ website if you have been convicted of certain sex offenses, regardless of when it happened. However, in certain situations, you can request for the removal of your name and picture from the DOJ website. For example, if your were convicted of a misdemeanor violation of Penal Code sections 647.6 (annoying or molesting a child less than 18 years old) or 243.4 (sexual battery), you or your Los Angeles Megan’s Law Lawyer will file a petition with the DOJ for exclusion.
If your name was put on the DOJ website for any other offenses, your name and picture can ONLY be excluded if ALL of the following requirements are met:
- Currently on probation or have successfully completed probation (if you have been in state prison you do not qualify for exclusion)
- Victim was an immediate family member – children, step children, mother, father, sister, brother, grandchild, or grandparent.
- Crime must not have included oral copulation or any type of penetration
You and your Los Angeles Megan’s Law Lawyer bear the burden of proving the above requirements to the DOJ by providing evidence along with your petition, such as police report, probation report, or other such official document.
PC 290 Issues
If you have been convicted of a sexual offense that requires you to register as a sex offender under Penal Code section 290, you may be able to get relief from this obligation either through a Certificate of Rehabilitation or a Governor’s Pardon.
These California penalties for sex offenders are devastating for convicted individuals. If you are facing criminal charges for a sex offense or have been convicted and face these consequences, you should contact Los Angeles Megan’s Law Lawyer Daniel Cota at (800) 351-6860.