Built over the course of years, the sex offender registry is a complex directory that allow authorities to monitor sex offenders across the United States. However, this database can be used by communities to alert them of their neighbors who have been convicted of various sex crimes.

What is a sex offender?

There is no single set of actions that define someone as a sex offender, due to the variation in state and federal laws. Generally, however, a sex offender is someone that has been criminally convicted of a sex crime. This means that an individual has been charged with a sex crime and convicted in court.

The specific laws that classify someone as a sex offender vary, but below are some examples:

• Criminal sexual conduct
• Indecent exposure
• Engaging a minor in sexual conduct
• A criminal offense that has an element involving a sexual act or contact
• Using a minor in a sexual performance

What is the sex offender registry?

The sex offender registry is a complete database, required by law in all states and by the federal government, to maintain a current list of those convicted of specific sex crimes. Sex offenders are required to register their status, as well as keep it accurate, in the location that they were convicted of their crimes.

There is more than one database where sex offenders can be found – both at the state and federal levels.

How does a sex offender get added to a registry?

After someone has been convicted of a sex crime, states and the federal government require the sex offenders to self-register on the database.

What information is on a sex offender registry?

While a sex offender must provide detailed personal information during their registration, there is some information that, although shared by the offender, is not publicly disclosed.

The public has limited access to a sex offender’s information. The public can access an offender’s:

• Name
• Address
• Place of employment
• Make of vehicle and license plate number
• Plans for international travel
• Geographic proximity to a member of the public
• Any business licenses (realtor, medical board status, etc.)
• Where the offender attends school, if they are a student

The database does not provide public access to the offender’s other arrests that did not result in a conviction.

How long is someone kept on the sex offender registry?

There are different “tiers” that sex offenders are ranked on, meaning that there are different requirements for each level of sex offense. Tier III sex offenders include the most serious offenses, with tier I being the lowest level. Offenders are only able to become tier III offenders after they have already been convicted of tier II offenses.

Sex offenders must be registered for—

• 15 years, if the offender is a tier I sex offender
• 25 years, if the offender is a tier II sex offender
• The life of the offender, if the offender is a tier III sex offender.

There is the ability for offenders to receive the equivalent of “good behavior”. If they maintain a period of time without getting into trouble, offenders can receive up to a year off of their registration period.  This requires the offender to meet the criteria stated for good behavior.

How to look up a sex offender

The federal government maintains a national sex offender database, called the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW). There, members of the public can search for offenders by name or by proximity to a given address.

Not all states have the option for searching by geographic proximity, so members of the public may need the name of an individual, or a zip code, to search this way.

It’s important to note, however, that each state has its own sex offender registry. Members of the public can go to a state’s website and find the same information they would otherwise find on NSOPW.

I was sexually abused, but I can’t find my offender on these databases. Where else can I look?

It’s important to note that only those who are criminally convicted of sex crimes are placed on the sex offender registry. Offenders who were never convicted will not appear on the sex offender registry, even if they committed sexual abuse.

However, there are other resources to find the names of sexual abusers, especially if they used their power as a member or leader of an institution to facilitate the abuse – that would include abusers like members of the clergy, teachers and principals, scoutmasters, and many others.

Our firm, Jeff Anderson & Associates, has various resources for survivors to identify their abusers and help survivors take steps towards healing. Anyone can call us for a free and confidential conversation to discuss matters of their case, regardless of how much time has passed since the abuse occurred.