The act's provisions are retroactive for 10 years from the date of conviction if the offender is sentenced to probation or from the date of release if the offender is confined. Experience and research indicate slightly more than 14,000 sex offenders will be required to register in Illinois as the result of the legislation. The Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS) Caution File already indicates that 8,455 persons have registered as sex offenders, 3,444 persons have been entered into LEADS who are required to register and have not registered, an additional 4,092 records have been provided by county probation offices indicating registration may be required, and about 700 sex offenders who have moved to Illinois will be required to register due to qualifying convictions in other State and Federal courts. Statistics in the sex offender registry show that 7,239 registrants have committed crimes against children, 212 of those who have not registered have been reincarcerated and 955 have moved to other States, and 179 of those who have registered have been reincarcerated and 161 have moved to other States. The Illinois Child Sex Offender and Murderer Community Notification Law of 1996 makes the name, address, date of birth, and offense of registered child sex offenders available to the public. Law enforcement agencies provide a list of child sex offenders to every school and child care facility in their county and also have the discretion to release information to anyone likely to encounter a sex offender. The general public can also request access to the list of child sex offenders from a police department or a sheriff's office. At the Federal level, the Jacob Wetterling Act, as amended by Megan's Law, establishes additional responsibilities for States. Benefits of sex offender registration and the role of sex offender registration coordinators in Illinois are discussed. 1 figure