What is the sex offender registry, and what can I do about registered sex offenders in my neighborhood?

FAQ Category:

Community

Discovering that someone convicted of sexual abuse is living nearby through the sex offender registry can stir up a range of emotions – fear, anger, insecurity, helplessness. You thought your neighborhood was pretty safe. Suddenly, that confidence is shaken. Media stereotypes about people who sexually abuse children can make it all seem overwhelming.

You don’t have to feel overwhelmed. Start by learning the facts. Accurate information about the situation can help you turn fear into confidence that you can keep your family and community safe. Learn more about steps you can take when you learn that there is a sex offender listed in your area.

What is the Sex Offender Registry?

The sex offender registry — which is sometimes referred to by the general public as the child or sexual predator list — was designed as a form of public protection and risk management to prevent or reduce the possibility of future sexual abuse by allowing law enforcement and the public to lookup, track, and monitor people convicted of sex crimes [3]. Sex Offender Registry laws were established as part of the supervision for individuals who have moved back into communities after being convicted of sex crimes against adults or children. Meghan’s Law is a federal law created in 2003 that requires information about individuals on the sex offender registry to be publicly available. The level of information available varies by state.

To search the national sex offender registry:
US Department of Justice Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website

To search state sex offender registries:
US Federal Bureau of Investigation State Sex Offender Registry Search

The registry lists represent a small proportion of people who have committed a sex offense in any community. It’s important to know that not every person who is convicted of a sex offense is required to register as a sex offender. Additionally, many incidents of sexual abuse are never reported — so those who have behaved abusively are never put onto any list. Therefore, the police and the courts can't warn us about the people responsible for most of the abuse that is committed across the United States.

Those most at risk of abusing a child are people we already know in our families and in our communities. It's hard to face the idea that someone we know - and even love - might be sexually abusing a child. Learn the "Warning Signs" in any adult’s behaviors with a child that may indicate that sexual abuse is happening. If you have questions or would like resources or guidance for responding to a specific situation, visit our Online Help Center or reach out to our Helpline.

Does the sex offender registry prevent abuse?

There is a popular belief that sex offender registries help protect the public [1]. A detailed review of research found that sex offender registry and notification laws don't have a big impact on whether people commit more crimes [3].

Focusing on preventing future abusive behaviors, protecting survivors, and protecting the community are actually more effective key elements of sex offender management. This also includes collaboration and frequent information sharing among law enforcement officers, victim advocates, treatment providers, and others involved in the supervision of sex offenders. Sex offenders are frequently categorized by risk level, and while most fall into the low-risk category, law enforcement can use this organizational feature to inform their management of public safety [2].

What can I do about sex offenders in my area?

If you are concerned about a sex offender in your neighborhood, there are steps you can take to learn more information. If someone in your community is listed on the sex offender registry, take note of where they were convicted and reach out to that court. From there, you can ask for the contact information for their probation or parole officer (if they currently have one) to speak with them directly. This would give you the opportunity to ask questions about how they have been doing since release and any restrictions they may have in place about where they live, work, or in their interactions with children. You can also share any current concerns about their behaviors with children, or any warning signs you might be seeing.

Seeking allies to address concerns about a sex offender in your neighborhood

It can be helpful to find allies in your concerns with other protective adults in the neighborhood. One option would be to talk with this person directly with an ally, like another concerned neighbor. We know that this isn’t a step that everyone feels comfortable with, but having a clear and calm conversation can be productive for everyone involved and can create clear expectations for safety.

It’s helpful to stay away from labeling or judgmental language, but it’s absolutely okay to be clear about any specific behaviors that you have seen that feel concerning and about the boundaries you and other protective adults would like to see in place around children in the neighborhood. During this conversation you can ask questions like “What supports do you have in place to stay safe?” or “What steps are you taking to keep children safe?” Demonstrating that you are willing to speak up about children’s safety is another important step in prevention.

Remind yourself and your neighbors that it’s in everyone’s best interest that this person succeeds in becoming a safe member of your community. Truth is, they probably want to succeed as well. And, recidivism goes down significantly when people do have support, housing, a job, hobbies, and ties to the community. Join with others to learn the best actions to take to keep everyone safe.

Learn how one community member took action to respond to concerns over sex offenders in his community.

Learn More

References
[1] Jung, S., Allison, M., Toop, C., & Martin, E. (2020). Sex offender registries: Exploring the attitudes and knowledge of political decision-makers. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 27(3), 478-492. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2020.1733698

[2] Thomas, T., & Marshall, D. (2021). The sex offender register: Politics, Policy and Public opinion. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003088509

[3] Zgoba, K. M., & Mitchell, M. M. (2021). The effectiveness of sex offender registration and notification: A meta-analysis of 25 years of findings. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-021-09480-z