Sex Offender FAQs

Is there an Oregon State Sex Offender web site to access offender information?

The public web site contains information on those registered sex offenders designated as "Predatory" or as sexually violent dangerous offenders who are subject to community notification, by law. Public access may be made at sexoffenders.oregon.gov or by accessing the Oregon State Police home page at www.oregon.gov/OSP. The public web site is located under Most Popular Sites - Sex Offender Public Site. Oregon predatory sex offender information can also be accessed through the National Sex Offender Public Registry at www.nsopr.org. Some counties maintain a public web site which lists high risk, predatory offenders currently under supervision by Community Corrections. Contact your local Community Corrections office for additional information.
 

How can I get a list of sex offenders in my neighborhood?

Predatory offender information may be obtained through the public web site. A list of offenders, both on and off supervision, including those posted to the public website and those who are not, can be obtained by calling the Oregon State Police at 503-378-3725 ext. 44429 or by emailing a request to sexoffender.questions@state.or.us. In both instances you will need to leave your name, mailing address, and the city or zip code information for which you are interested. Most requests are processed within 1 week, however, circumstances may require longer response time.
 

Why doesn't the list give me the address for all the registered sex offenders?

Offenders currently under parole, post-prison supervision, probation or under the jurisdiction of a juvenile court fall under the authority of their supervising agency. Information on these ofeenders through the registry is limited by law. Questions regarding conditions, restrictions and address information should be directed to the supervising agency.
 

Can I get the address of adult sex offenders on supervision from the county corrections agency?

This varies from county to county. Generally they will provide you the address of those offenders determined predatory. If the sex offender has not been determined predatory, they may not release address information but can provide you with information about their crime of conviction and conditions of supervision.
 

What does "Predatory Sex Offender" mean?

Oregon law defines it as an individual who exhibits characteristics showing a tendency to victimize or injure others and who has been convicted of certain sex crimes. Offenders are assessed on an individual basis to determine whether they will be designated predatory. The "predatory" designation allows law enforcement, or the supervising agency, to notify the community about a particular sex offender.
 

Are all sex offenders considered "Predatory"?

No. The Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision (for persons housed in state correctional facilities), Community Corrections (for persons on probation) and Oregon State Police (for persons convicted of certain sex crimes in other states moving into oregon and persons who have never been on supervision) must make a finding of predatory, based on an assessment of the offender's crimes and history. This assessment is based, in part, on previous history and the facts surrounding the sex offense conviction.
 

Are all sex offenders required to register?

No. The list of sex offenses required to register can be found in ORS 181.594. The first registration laws went into effect in Oregon in 1989. Since that time, additional crimes have been added to the list. There are a number of people living in Oregon whose sex offense convictions predate the registration requirements. Other have convictions which allow for relief from registration 10 years after their supervision ends.
 

How long are sex offenders required to register?

Oregon is a lifetime registration state for convictions of Class A or B felony.  This also includes persons determined to be predatory and those with multiple sex crime convictions and adjudications.  If the sex offender has only one sex offense conviction of Class C felony or less (misdemeanor) with no further sex offense convictions or adjudications, they can apply for relief from the registration obligation 10 years after their supervision end date.  Youth adjudicated of a sex crime in juvenile court can apply for relief from registration 2 years after their supervision end date.  Application is made to the district attorney or juvenile court in the county in which they are residing and a court hearing is scheduled.  For more information about relief from reporting requirements, see ORS 181.600 (adults) and ORS 181.607-181.608 (juveniles).
 

Where can I find the descriptions for Oregon sex crimes?

The descriptions for sexual offenses in Oregon can be found in ORS 163.305 to 163.467.
 

Where can I find information about sex offender residence requirements?

Residence requirements are conditions placed on sex offenders currently under supervision by the Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision (for parolees) and Community Corrections (for probationers).  These requirements can be found in ORS 144.641.  For sex offenders off of supervision, no residential requirements apply under current Oregon state law.
 

Can registered sex offenders have contact with or be around children?

Offenders under supervision may have restrictions on whether they can be around minors.  If you believe an offender under supervision has been contacting minors, please contact your local Community Corrections office.  Offenders who have been determined predatory and are posted to the Oregon Predatory Sex Offender website cannot be around minors; if (ORS 163.476) They are where minors regularly congregate; defined as schools, parks, day care centers, skate parks, etc. where minors would normally meet for educational or recreational purposes; and (ORS 163.479) Contact is made with minors for the purpose of committing a crime for the sexual arousal or gratification of the offender or another person.
 

What should I do if I see a known sex offender talking with children in the neighborhood in the City of Florence?

Contact the Florence Police Department at 541-997-3515 and provide as much detail as possible.  Confidentiality will be respected if requested.
 

Who should I contact if I want to report a suspicious incident or person?

Contact your local law enforcement agency.  Offenders use secrecy as a method to continue their sexual abuse.  Community involvement greatly enhances the successful monitoring of offenders in your community.
 

How do victims of sex offenses get information on their convicted sex offenders?

ORS 181.601 outlines what information is available to victims.   Oregon Department of Corrections also provides information on incarcerated and supervised sex offenders under their jurisdiction through the VINE Program.  Additional information may be obtained by calling 1-877-OR4-VINE.  Contact with the Oregon Sex Offender Registry can be made at any time by calling (503) 378-3725 ext. 44429.
 

What is community notification?

Community notification is advising the community where a predatory sex offender resides of that individual’s presence.  This can be made in a variety of ways depending on the offender and the circumstances.  Notifying only the offender’s family and employer is a minimal form of community notification. Community notification is made by local law enforcement (i.e., police department, sheriff’s office, state police) for persons not on supervision.  Community notification is made by Community Corrections for persons under supervision by the Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision and Community Corrections.

Other examples of notification may include, but not be limited to:

  • Community/Neighborhood meetings.
  • Distribution of flyers door-to-door (i.e., schools, daycare centers, etc.)
  • Newspaper articles and ads.
  • Internet notices posting predatory offender residence location.

Is community notification made on all sex offenders?

No.  Notification is made only on those persons deemed predatory by the Oregon State Police, the Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision and Community Corrections.  Notification may be made for sex offenders off of supervision by local law enforcement.  For persons on supervision, notification may be made by their supervising agency.
 

How does the Adam Walsh Act, passed by the federal government in July 2006, affect Oregon registration law?

Until the Oregon Legislative body adopts the components of the Adam Walsh Act, Oregon registration law remains unchanged.
 

I am required to register as a sex offender. May I do this at the Florence Police Department and if so, when may I do it?

Sex Offenders seeking to comply with their registration requirements may do so at the Florence Justice Center. Registrations are restricted to a three hour period on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. If a holiday fall on a Tuesday, then there will be no registration opportunity until the following Tuesday.