Report of the Virginia State Crime Commission [on] "Megan's Law" or community notification for sex offenders to the Governor and the General Assembly of Virginia

This report was published in 1998 by the Virginia State Crime Commission in response to the growing national mandate for sex offender registration and community notification. Following the federal passage of Megan’s Law in 1996, individual states were required to establish systems to alert local communities about the presence of registered sex offenders. The Virginia General Assembly commissioned this study to evaluate the legal, constitutional, and practical implications of implementing such a notification system within the Commonwealth.

The document was prepared by commission staff and legal analysts as a technical advisory to guide legislative policy. The design and structure prioritize readability and clarity for lawmakers, providing a synthesis of existing statutes, public safety concerns, and potential administrative hurdles. It serves as a historical record of the state's legislative deliberation during a period of significant reform in criminal justice policy, reflecting the era's transition toward increased transparency in offender tracking.