Security On Campus, Inc. Brings “Megan’s Law” To College & University Campuses

Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act Complete Text Of Law (section 1601 of Public Law 106-386) U.S. Department of Justice implementing guidelines (October 25, 2002)

Washington, DC-Beginning Monday “Megan’s Law” will be expanded to college and university campuses across the country. Under the federal “Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act” members of campus communities will be able to find out if the student sitting next to them in class, or someone volunteering at the campus day care center is a registered sex offender.

“This new national standard will help ensure that states afford college campuses the same level of protection that other communities receive under Megan’s Law,” said Daniel Carter of the non-profit Security On Campus, Inc. The campus safety advocacy organization helped develop and secure passage of the legislation two years ago after they learned that loopholes in the law often kept campus police from getting and disseminating the names of sexual predators on campus.

Now states will be required to keep track of registered sex offenders when they enroll at an institution of higher education, or begin working or volunteering on campus. States will then have to share that information with campus or local police, and the public.

“This is an important first step in ensuring law enforcement, and specifically campus police have information about sexual predators on campuses so that we can adequately protect our communities,” said Detective Sally Miller of California’s Sonoma County Junior College District Police Department.

States which haven’t adopted campus sex offender registration programs by Monday risk losing a portion of their federal criminal justice grant funding. California, Tennessee, Utah, Iowa, Colorado, South Carolina, Michigan, and Florida have already enacted the needed legislation. Tennessee’s law takes effect today, and California’s law takes effect Monday, while the other state laws have already taken effect. Many other states are expected to take up the needed legislation early next year.

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