Sex Offenders and Sex Offenses

Below you will find information on special legal considerations related to sex offenses, including community notification laws and other legal restrictions on convicted sex offenders.

• Halloween Sex Offender Laws - Many states have enacted laws restricting the behavior of convicted sex offenders on Halloween.
• Registration Requirements: Impact of Jacob Wetterling - The unsolved abduction of Jacob Wetterling led to the enactment of national sex offender registry laws.
• Community Notification Laws (Megan's Law) - Every state must provide information about the location of individuals convicted of sex offenses.
• Megan's Law Resources by State - A list with links to each state's sex offender registry website.
• Residency Restrictions for Sex Offenders - Several states prohibit those convicted of sex crimes from living in certain areas, such as near schools.

• Chemical and Surgical Castration - Some states allow drug treatments to lower a convict's sex drive, and at least one state permits the surgical castration of sex offenders.
• Civil Commitment - Some states order the civil commitment of habitual sex offenders in order to reduce the risk of future crimes.
• Amber Alerts - Amber alerts spread information about child abductions to aid in the rescue of the child.

• Child Pornography
• Indecent Exposure
• Prostitution
• Rape
• Sexual Assault
• Statutory Rape