Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act (CSPA)
The Campus Sex Crimes Act was established October 28, 2002. The law, sponsored by U.S. Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, was intended to “guarantee that, when a convicted sex offender enrolls or begins employment at a college or university, members of the campus community will have the information they need to protect themselves.” Specifically, this act amends or extends a number of federal laws, including the Jacob Wetterling Act, Megan’s Law and the Jeanne Clery Act by requiring that:
- Sex offenders who are already required to register in a given state provide notice, as required under that state’s law, of each institution of higher education in that state in which that person is a student or at which the person is employed or carries on a vocation.
- State procedures ensure that this registration information is promptly made available to law enforcement agencies having jurisdiction over the area where the institution of higher education is located.
- States enter this information into appropriate State records or data systems.
- Institutions of higher education issue a statement, in addition to other disclosures required by law, advising the campus community where the law enforcement agency information provided by a State concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained.
In addition, the Campus Sex Crimes Act amends the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) by clarifying that nothing in FERPA may be construed as prohibiting an educational institution from disclosing information provided to the institution concerning registered sex offenders; and requires the Secretary of Education to take appropriate steps to notify educational institutions that disclosure of this information is permitted. You may obtain information for Iowa, and specifically the Pella area, by accessing the following link: http://www.iowasexoffender.com/.