(But will it cover Sabre Swings???)
San Diego unveils sex offender Web site
May 30, 2002
A Web site allowing users to learn if registered sex offenders live in their neighborhoods was launched by the city of San Diego on Thursday.
The site was created at the behest of city councilmember Jim Madaffer. Such information is already available to members of the public by visiting the San Diego Police Department under the so-called "Megan's Law," but Madaffer asked that the information also be published over the World Wide Web.
 The yellow areas on this map shows where "serious sex offernders" live in this area near Northside Drive in San Diego. Vist the actual site here. |
The site is apparently being heavily used in its first day of operation. Some inquiries were met with messages that "the server is busy."
Using the Web site, users can enter such information their addresses or school names, and learn the general locations of residences where "high risk," or "serious" sex offenders have registered as their dwellings.
The city has limited the map's zoom capability and symbols have been enlarged and offset to keep offenders' exact locations from being pinpointed.
The information is updated once a month, according to San Diego police.
"Megan's Law" was passed in July, 1996 It's named after 7-year-old Megan Kanka. The New Jersey girl was raped and killed by a child molester who had moved across the street from the family.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court substantially broadened its review of such laws. In accepting an appeal from Connecticut, the court has agreed to decide whether listing all the offenders in a such registries violates the constitutional guarantee of due process.
The county of San Diego is expected to launch a similar map-based site by July.