Find Registered Sex Offenders

The National Sex Offender Registry:  Important Laws & Facts

In 1994, Congress passed the Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act.  This Act requires states to create a registry in which all convicted sex offenders and criminals against children must register their current status with their state of residence.  Convicted Sex Offenders are required to register their addresses, places of employment and other pertinent information with the state so that the public can find registered sex offenders quickly and easily.

There are over 400,000 registered sex offenders in the United States alone, although statistics show that over 88% of sexual abuse is never reported.  In 1996, the Wetterling Program was amended by Meghan’s Law giving states broad discretion in determining who would be notified about neighborhood sex offenders.  To further assist the public in keeping apprised of known sex offenders and their whereabouts, the Pam Lychner Sexual Offender Tracking and Identification Act was passed in 1996.  The FBI has been able to monitor and track certain convicted sex offenders since that time.

Sex Offender Statistics:

·         Over 30% of girls and over 10% of boys will be molested before their 18th birthday

            US Department of Justice

·         70% of female rape or sexual assault victims stated that they knew their offender

            US Bureau of Justice Statistics

·         Every 2.5 minutes there is a sexual crime committed in the United States & most victims of these crimes are under the age of 18. 

            US Department of Justice

·         The average age of sexual assault victim is less than 13 years old.

            US Bureau of Justice Statistics

·         Only 26% of all rapes or attempted rapes are reported to law enforcement officials

            US Department of Justice

·         In nearly 50% of rapes, the victim sustained injuries other than rape injuries

            US Bureau of Justice Statistics

Most sex offenders know their victims, most offenses don't get reported, & most victims are under 18 years old. 

How Accessible Are Sex Offender Registries Online?

Completely Accessible.  All states have accessible registries that can be searched by and for the public.  The National Registry is also available to determine where these offenders are located.  In 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that information about sexual predators and those convicted of crimes against children can be posted and researched online. Sexual predators and sexual offenders have different meanings.

·         A sexual predator is a person who has committed a serious sexual crime against a child or an adult.  They will be listed as a predator for life.  The only way to have this reversed is by a full pardon of the crime.

·         A sexual offender is a person who has committed any type of sexual crime.

Other Relevant Information...

Prison Sentences and/or probation differ according to the severity and nature of the crime.  Offenders designated as sexual predators are generally handed much stiffer sentencing. In addition, sex offenders may be ordered to permanently abstain from contact with children under the age of 18, if in fact their victim was a minor during the assault.

In order to assure the authority and integrity of the aforementioned State Registries, it is considered a felony for a convicted sex offender or sexual predator to withhold any information that is required of them by the registries.  Furthermore, certain states require that perpetrators live no closer than 1000 feet from schools, while other states require perpetrators to live 500 feet away.  In some states, such as Idaho, a sexual offender is not allowed to visit any park at any time.   

Can I use Background Check Elite to Find Registered Sex Offenders?

Absolutely; it’s easy.  Here’s how: 

The first method is to use the Free Search Box on the left-hand side.  Simply, select "Sex Offender Records" for your SEARCH TYPE and then select your desired LOCATION, like New York State.  Keep in mind, with all of our search queries, you can select "Federal" to access nationwide resources.  (Federal resources, however, do not include state or county specific resources, so you will likely want to search both.)  After examining those resources, you may need or want to extend your search into other available resources, or SEARCH TYPE(s).  To find possible Sex Offenders, or to simply look into someone's available Criminal History, you will want to check records like Arrest Records, Inmate Records, and others.  This way you won't miss any crucial findings in your investigation.

The second method is to use the Search Box on the right-hand side.  This search box is a premium service for people who want to search specifically by name, and want instant results.  These results will provide a complete background check on a person, including available nationwide, or state criminal records that will showcase arrest dates, charges, offenses, case numbers, sentences, & dispositions.  Simply input the name of person into the Search Box and "Instant Search".  Only the last name is required for this search, but knowing the first name, and state will greatly narrow your results.