People v. J.C. (In re J.C.)

*1203 In this case, we hold that mandatory lifetime sex offender registration pursuant to Penal Code section 290.008 1 for those adjudicated wards of the court based on the commission of certain sex offenses is not cruel and unusual punishment. We come to this conclusion because appellant has not established on this record that such registration is punishment.

When J.C. was 12 years old, the juvenile court adjudicated him a ward of the court based on his commission of a forcible lewd act (sodomy) on a five-year-old. (§ 288, subd. (b).) After J.C. failed at less restrictive commitments and was found to be in violation of his probation on three occasions, the juvenile court committed him to the Division of Juvenile Facilities (DJF). This commitment requires lifetime registration as a sex offender pursuant to section 290.008.

On appeal, J.C. contends lifetime sex offender registration for juveniles is cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution. We reject this contention as we explain in the published portion of this opinion.

In the unpublished portion of this opinion, we address J.C.'s challenges to his commitment based on the…