In the state of Ohio, sex offenders are taken very seriously. An Ohio sex offender must register as a sex offender with the state as soon as they are released from their place of incarceration. As a registered sex offender a person must adhere to a number of laws and regulations in order to remain out of jail or prison. A sex offender must continue to provide updated information for as long as they are registered. In many states, sex offenders have to stay registered for the rest of their lives.
Ohio Sex Offenders and Schools
It is against the law for a registered sex offender anywhere to be within 1,000 feet of a school, playground, or anyplace else that could be populated with children. This also goes for sex offenders in Ohio. Federal and local law enforcement agencies are strict about how registered sex offenders are dealt with when it comes to being near children. Sex offenders that do not obey the laws will be punished in accordance with the laws of the state that they reside in.
Ohio Sex Offenders in the Community
Whenever a registered sex offender moves into a neighborhood, anybody that lives within 1,200 feet of the home of the offender will be notified by mail. The letter will include the name, address, conviction information, and a recent photograph of the sex offender. This alert is an attempt to protect children and other vulnerable people from potentially dangerous sexual predators.
Ohio Sex Offender Registry
To access the sex offender registry for Ohio first locate the Ohio state website, then navigate to the sex offender search portal. This portal will bring you to the Ohio Attorney General’s website where you can do a search based on zip code, name, area, or city.
Registered sex offenders in Ohio are required by law to register their work information, home address, and vehicle information with their local sheriff’s office. They also have to provide a current photograph of themselves. All of this information is considered public information and can be accessed by whoever looks at it.
Ohio Sex Offender Tiers
Sex offenders in Ohio are classified in sections that determine how dangerous they might be towards society by a number of factors regarding their convictions. For tier 1 offenders, the time that they have to remain registered sex offenders is 15 years. For tier 2 offenders, they have to remain registered for 25 years. If an offender is a tier 3 offender, they have to remain registered as a sex offender for the rest of their lives.
Why Sex Offender Registries Are Important
Sex offender registries are important because they give an opportunity for the citizens of communities to know if they are in danger by living near or around a convicted sex offender. Before the Megan’s Law of 1996 came into effect, communities did not have any warnings or alerts if sex offenders moved in next to them. In many cases, sex offenders get out of prison and re-offend soon after they are released. With the help of sex offender registry information, people anywhere can simply search online and find out where sex offenders are and know where they live. Sometimes all it takes is knowledge of the unknown to save a life.
***Registered Offenders List is a free online resource that strives to offer helpful content and resources to its visitors regarding registered sex offenders that live near you.
