California registers adult, juvenile (convicted in juvenile court and sent
to a state level incarcerating facility) sex offenders, as well as, out of state residents required to register (in other state) that come to California for work or school purposes.
Information collected includes address information on all residences, transient locations frequented, campus information (if applicable), fingerprints, palm prints, photos, vehicle information, drivers license information, occupation, employment data, scars, marks, tattoos, and other identifying information including blood and saliva samples for DNA analysis.
Contact Person:
Kathryn Santillan – Department of Justice (Phone) 916-227-4526, (Fax) 916-227-4345.
Administrating Agency:
State Department of Justice, local law enforcement agencies (LEAs). The local LEAs are the actual registering agencies. The registering agencies have the ability to update the DOJ database with specified address information.
Timeframe for Registration:
Registered sex offenders are required to update their information annually, within five working days of their birthday. Some sex offenders must update more often: transients must update every 30 days, and sexually violent predators, every 90 days.
The Sex Offender Tracking Program keeps track of the next required update, and if a registered sex offender is in violation of the update requirements, the Internet web site will show the registrant as being in violation.
Duration of Requirement:
Once convicted or adjudicated, this is lifetime requirement for both juveniles and adults. In order to be relieved of this requirement, juveniles adjudicated in juvenile court may petition to have their record sealed; adults may petition the court for a Certificate of Rehabilitation in
some cases or a full Governor’s Pardon in most cases.
Penalties for Non-Compliance:
There are various criminal penalties that apply to persons who fail to comply with the sex offender registration requirements. In general, a person convicted of a registrable felony sex offense who willfully violates the registration law is guilty of a felony. A person convicted of a registrable misdemeanor sex offense who violates the registration law is guilty of a misdemeanor on the first violation, and subsequent convictions for violating the registration law are felonies.
Confidentiality Provision:
Anyone who uses this information to commit a felony shall be punished by a five-year term of imprisonment in the state prison. Any person who uses this information to commit a misdemeanor shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000.