Back to DAPO

Sex Offender Information

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) continues to be one of the nation’s leading law enforcement agencies in the application of innovative community supervision methods related to sex offenders. To ensure public safety, CDCR works collaboratively with Federal, State, County, City, and other organizations.

CDCR’s Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP) was implemented in September 2014, incorporating a collaborative approach to sex offender supervision and management. This meets the statutory requirements outlined in California Penal Code (PC) Section 3008 (also known as Chelsea’s Law). Intended for the management of all parolees required to register with law enforcement pursuant to PC Section 290, the SOMP is an evidence-based approach to sex offender management utilizing the “Containment Model,” which incorporates four elements including supervision, treatment, polygraph, and victim advocacy.

Megan’s Law

Megan’s Law addresses registration requirements. This law, signed by Governor Schwarzenegger on September 24, 2004, allowed the public to see information about sex offenders required to register with local law enforcement.

Visit the Megan’s Law website for more information and access the state database

Jessica’s Law

Jessica’s Law deals with proximity and tracking. Jessica’s Law was passed by California voters on Nov. 7, 2006 and increased the penalties for sex offenders, broadened the definition of certain sexual offenses, eliminated good time credits for early release of certain offenders, prohibited probation for certain crimes, extended parole for some offenses, increased court-imposed fees on sex offenders and provided for lifelong GPS monitoring of high risk sex offenders. The law also prohibited sex offender parolees released from prison on or after Nov. 8, 2006 from residing within 2,000 feet of any school and park where children congregate.

Residency restrictions for Jessica’s Law shall not be enforced as a blanket restriction. All residency restrictions that do not apply to PC Section 3003(g) will be placed on a case-by-case basis and supported by the particularized circumstances of each individual parolee (In re Taylor (2015) 60 Cal.4th 1019).

Chelsea’s Law

On September 9, 2010, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 1844, also known as the Chelsea King Child Predator Prevention Act of 2010, or Chelsea’s Law. The legislation was introduced by Assembly Member Nathan Fletcher, in collaboration with the King family, in response to the murder of their 17-year-old daughter Chelsea, by registered sex offender John Albert Gardner.

Multiple Penal Code sections were affected by Assembly Bill 1844 including increased penalties for sex offender parolees, closer oversight of sex offenders, mandatory sex offender treatment and longer parole periods for felony sex crimes involving physical contact with children. Chelsea’s Law also mandated the implementation of a “Containment Model” used to manage sex offenders under supervision.