Megan's Law Definition

An informal name for a law that requires convicted sex offenders to register with law enforcement authorities, who then make certain information available to the public. Registered information varies from state to state, but it often includes the offender's name, address, date of conviction, type of crime, and photograph. This information may be made available on the Internet or distributed through newspapers, pamphlets, or other means. These laws are named for seven-year-old Megan Kanka, who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered in New Jersey in 1994.