What are the major features of the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

In 1994, Congress passed the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act. The act required that states create sex-offender registries within three years or lose 10 percent of their funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Program. Offenders who commit a criminal sexual act against a minor or commit any sexually violent offense must register for a period of 10 years from the date of their release from custody or supervision. All 50 states have sex-offender registration.
The Jacob Wetterling Act gave states the option of releasing information about registered sex offenders for public safety purposes. This changed in 1996 when Congress amended the act to require that states disclose information about registered sex offenders for public safety purposes. This legislation became known as Megan's Law, in memory of Megan Kanka.
The Pam Lychner Sexual Offender Tracking and Identification Act of 1996 amended the Jacob Wetterling Act by establishing a national sex-offender database, which the FBI maintains.