§16901. Declaration of purpose

In order to protect the public from sex offenders and offenders against children, and in response to the vicious attacks by violent predators against the victims listed below, Congress in this chapter establishes a comprehensive national system for the registration of those offenders:

(1) Jacob Wetterling, who was 11 years old, was abducted in 1989 in Minnesota, and remains missing.

(2) Megan Nicole Kanka, who was 7 years old, was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered in 1994, in New Jersey.

(3) Pam Lychner, who was 31 years old, was attacked by a career offender in Houston, Texas.

(4) Jetseta Gage, who was 10 years old, was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered in 2005, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

(5) Dru Sjodin, who was 22 years old, was sexually assaulted and murdered in 2003, in North Dakota.

(6) Jessica Lunsford, who was 9 years old, was abducted, sexually assaulted, buried alive, and murdered in 2005, in Homosassa, Florida.

(7) Sarah Lunde, who was 13 years old, was strangled and murdered in 2005, in Ruskin, Florida.

(8) Amie Zyla, who was 8 years old, was sexually assaulted in 1996 by a juvenile offender in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and has become an advocate for child victims and protection of children from juvenile sex offenders.

(9) Christy Ann Fornoff, who was 13 years old, was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered in 1984, in Tempe, Arizona.

(10) Alexandra Nicole Zapp, who was 30 years old, was brutally attacked and murdered in a public restroom by a repeat sex offender in 2002, in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

(11) Polly Klaas, who was 12 years old, was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered in 1993 by a career offender in California.

(12) Jimmy Ryce, who was 9 years old, was kidnapped and murdered in Florida on September 11, 1995.

(13) Carlie Brucia, who was 11 years old, was abducted and murdered in Florida in February, 2004.

(14) Amanda Brown, who was 7 years old, was abducted and murdered in Florida in 1998.

(15) Elizabeth Smart, who was 14 years old, was abducted in Salt Lake City, Utah in June 2002.

(16) Molly Bish, who was 16 years old, was abducted in 2000 while working as a lifeguard in Warren, Massachusetts, where her remains were found 3 years later.

(17) Samantha Runnion, who was 5 years old, was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered in California on July 15, 2002.

( Pub. L. 109–248, title I, §102, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 590 .)

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 109–248, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 587 , known as the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out below and Tables.

Short Title of 2016 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–119, §1(a), Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 15 , provided that: "This Act [enacting part A–1 of this subchapter and section 212b of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, and amending section 16914 of this title and section 2250 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure] may be cited as the 'International Megan's Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders'."

Short Title of 2015 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–22, title V, §501, May 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 258 , provided that: "This title [enacting section 16928a of this title] may be cited as the 'Military Sex Offender Reporting Act of 2015'."

Short Title of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–400, §1, Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4224 , provided that: "This Act [enacting sections 16915a and 16915b of this title, amending section 16981 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 16981 of this title] may be cited as the 'Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act of 2008' or the 'KIDS Act of 2008'."

Short Title

Pub. L. 109–248, §1(a), July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 587 , provided that: "This Act [enacting this chapter, sections 3765, 3797ee, and 3797ee–1 of this title, chapter 109B and sections 2252C, 2257A, 2260A, 3299, and 4248 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, amending sections 671, 5772, 5780, 13032, and 14135a of this title, section 1101 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality, sections 1001, 1153, 1154, 1201, 1227, 1466, 1467, 1591, 2241, 2242, 2243, 2244, 2245, 2251, 2252, 2252A, 2252B, 2253, 2254, 2255, 2257, 2258, 2260, 2422, 2423, 3142, 3509, 3559, 3563, 3583, 3592, 3621, 3771, 4042, 4209, 4241, and 4247 of Title 18, section 841 of Title 21, Food and Drugs, section 534 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, repealing sections 14071 to 14073 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 671, 5611, 13701, and 14071 of this title, sections 2251 and 2257 of Title 18, and provisions listed in a table relating to sentencing guidelines set out as a note under section 994 of Title 28, and amending provisions set out as notes under section 13751 of this title and section 951 of Title 10, Armed Forces] may be cited as the 'Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006'."

Pub. L. 109–248, title I, §101, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 590 , provided that: "This title [enacting this subchapter and chapter 109B of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, amending sections 671, 5772, 5780, 13032, and 14135a of this title, sections 1001, 3563, 3583, 4042, and 4209 of Title 18, and section 534 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, repealing sections 14071 to 14073 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 671 and 14071 of this title and provisions listed in a table relating to sentencing guidelines set out as a note under section 994 of Title 28, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 951 of Title 10, Armed Forces] may be cited as the 'Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act'."