The 1996 Megan’s Law required sex offenders to register within the state where they reside, but a 2002 law added a stipulation to require offenders to also notify the city in which they reside.
The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act that took effect Oct. 28 requires convicted sex offenders to notify the college at which they work or are enrolled.
Capt. Mark Shaw with LSUPD said even if an offender lives outside the city where he attends school, he still must register with the institute of higher education.
If a sex offender is employed or enrolled at a college, the university must publish a statement about where the offender resides.
Every sex offender is required to report his address on an annual basis and if enrolled in school, on a quarterly basis. State police are required to maintain a record of all released sex offenders and their crimes.
The University is required to make the information available, but Shaw said there has yet to be any requirement for the offender to directly notify the campus population.
Shaw said for two years they have received notification from the State Police of anyone who moved into or out of the area or outlying area.
“I check them against the University main directory,” he said. “If the person is a student, I notify the Dean of Students, and if he is an employee, I send notification to Human Resources.”
Currently there are no offenders working or enrolled at the University, though at one time there were offenders enrolled as students.
A condition of parole for a sex offender may be employment or attending school. Since the University is a state entity, the school cannot legally deny them admission or employment, Shaw said.
If a convicted sex offender is enrolled at the University, the University has the option of denying the student on campus housing.
Shaw said federally it is left up to the state to determine which sex crimes must be registered.
Sex offenders required to register by law in a state in which they reside must still register if they move to a different state where the crime does not require registration, Shaw said.
Anyone wishing to access the state sex offender database can visit www.lasocpr.lsp. org/socpr. The database lists the offender’s name, nicknames and current residence.