Sex Offender Registration Requirements

At The Law Office of Brian Jones, we empathize with our clients who face sex offense charges. Our attorneys and professional staff alike recognize the social stigma surrounding these offenses. We take seriously the life-altering consequences that accompany not only these types of convictions, but also the allegations from which such convictions stem.

We believe that allegations are not enough to subject our clients to a life of stigmatization without proof to substantiate them. It is for this reason that we work tirelessly, from the moment a client walks through our door for a consultation throughout the process of our representation, to ensure each of our clients obtain the best possible result in their case.

Sex Offender Registration in the United States

The sex offender registration system allows government authorities to track individuals convicted of certain sex crimes, based on the belief that these offenders pose risks to public safety and the communities in which they live.

There are two types of sex offender registries:

• Offense-Based Registries
  • Utilized by the majority of states in the U.S., including Ohio.
  • Do not take into account an offender’s risk level or the severity of their offense.
• Risk-Based Registries
  • Consider the individual circumstances of an offender and the underlying offense.
  • Often utilized to promote civil rights and fairness; however, states utilizing these registries are often pressured by the federal government to adopt offense-based systems which align with the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.

These registries consist of both state and federal systems which collect information pertaining to convicted sex offenders for the purpose of law enforcement and public notification.

Personal Information Contained in Sex Offender Registries

Every state in the country maintains a publicly accessible sex offender registration website, which typically collects personal information, such as an offender’s:

Ohio Sex Offender Registration Laws

Ohio’s Sex Offender Registration & Notification Law (Sorn Law), governed by Ohio Revised Code Title 29 Chapter 2950, is an offense-based registry system. As such, convictions for certain sex offenses can place a person on the registry, even in cases where that person would be considered a “low-risk” offender under a risk-based model.

Presently, Ohio’s sex offender registry contains information for over 17,000 listed offenders convicted of sex crimes with varying levels of severity, including sexually oriented offenses, crimes committed by individuals deemed habitual sex offenders, sexual predators, and sexually violent predators.

Under Ohio’s law, individuals convicted of qualifying sex crimes are required to provide their local sheriff’s office with personal information, made publicly accessible though the eSORN database, including information regarding their:

Moreover, offenders must provide information related to their qualifying offense, such as:

The database also provides information regarding each sex offender’s level and sex offender registration number, as well as whether the offender is compliant with his registration requirements as mandated by law. Information entered into the registry by any of Ohio’s 88 county sheriff offices can be viewed online through the State’s sex offender search tool.

Crimes That Require Sex Offender Registration in Ohio

Generally, Ohio’s registration system categorizes offenders into three tiers. See the table below to view how Ohio distributes offenses among the three tiers

All offenses also include attempt, conspiracy or complicity to commit listed offense.

Violations of former laws of this state, any existing or former municipal ordinance or law of another state, military court, Indian tribe, or U.S. that is substantially equivalent to any of the listed offenses included in the equivalent tier.

How Long Are Sex Offenders Required to Register in Ohio?

In Ohio, the length of an offender’s registration requirement is directly correlated to the offender’s classification. Generally:

Tier I offenders must register annually for a term of 15 years. In some cases, Tier I offenders are required to register annually for only 10 years.

Tier II offenders must register every 180 days for a term of 25 years.

Tier III offenders must register every 90 days indefinitely.

In Ohio, if the underlying offense is a felony, an offender’s failure to register is a felony of the fifth degree; otherwise, the failure to register is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Community Notification Requirements

• Neighbor Notification:
  • Once an offender is registered, his or her information is dispersed to all residential neighbors within 1,000 feet of the offender’s residence in notices from the Sheriff’s office.
• Neighbor Notification (Multi-Unit Building)
  • If an offender lives in a multi-unit building, such as an apartment or condominium complex, notices are given to the building manager and dispersed to the occupants of those units which share common hallways with the offender within 1,000 feet of the offender’s residence.
• Community Notification
  • Notices may also be dispersed to additional parties in the offender’s jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, officials from school districts, schools, child-care centers, child day-care centers, and colleges or other higher education institutions.
• Change of Residence
  • Registered offenders are required to report any changes to their place of residence or employment, as well as provide notice of their intent to move to a new geographical location.

Do Not Put Your Future At Risk

The sooner you start building a defense against your sex crime charges, the better. Our team of criminal defense attorneys know how to fight your sex crime charges aggressively. They will do everything they can to get the best possible outcome for your case.

You can schedule an appointment by calling us today at 740-363-3900 or by using the contact form. Hablámos Español.