Sexual Offender Information

The E-SORN (Electronic Sex Offender Registration and Notification System) was developed in response to Megan's Law, passed in 1994, which prompted the passage of 'The Jacob Wetterling Act', in addition to the Federal Crime Act.  This legal addition to existing law required all states to pass a sex offender registration and notification law.  To date, all 50 states have a sex offender registration law.

The Ohio version of Megan's Law is called the Electronic Sex Offender Registration and Notification (ESORN) law.   Ohio's law requires that all sex offenders, including those already incarcerated, be classified by their sentencing judges into one of the below classifications, each of which dictates the registration and notification requirements to which the offender is subject.  From January 1997, all convicted sex offenders have been, and continue to be, subject to the registration requirements of the law.

This law was revised on July 31, 2003, with the passage of Senate Bill 5, which developed new classifications of offenders and strengthened the current SORN Laws in Ohio.  Any person convicted of certain sex offense violations of the Ohio Revised Code or similar laws of another state may be determined by the court to be required to register as a sex offender.

The latest revision, Senate Bill 10, went into effect January 1, 2008.   Passage of this law ensured Ohio was in compliance with the recently enacted federal law called the Adam Walsh Act (AWA).  The major change in the law required the Ohio Attorney General reclassifying every current offender under the Tier system and also changed the reporting requirements for each offender.  Classifications under the Tier system are based solely on the specific crime the offender was convicted of.  Sex offenders are classified as:  1) Tier 1 Offenders, 2) Tier 2 Offenders, and 3) Tier 3 Offenders

Offender Requirements:

1. All registered sex offenders must report at the scheduled intervals based on their classifications.  In addition, they must report any change    in address within three days to the Sheriff of the county in which they reside.

2. All registered sex offenders must report to the county Sheriff immediately upon entering the county to attend school.

3. All registered sex offenders must register with the county Sheriff where the offender has been employed in the county for more than 14    days or for a total of 30 days or more in a calendar year, regardless of where the offender lives.

4. All registered sex offenders must report to the county Sheriff all vehicles registered to them.

5. All registered sex offenders must report to the county Sheriff any internet or email addresses to which they have access.
    All registered sex offenders must report to the county Sheriff any location where they serve as a volunteer.

Current Classifications:

1.  Tier 1 Offender

        A Tier 1 offender is subject to the registration/verification requirements annually for a period of 15 years following their initial registration.   These offenders are  not  subject to neighborhood/community notification.   A $25.00 fee per registration may be collected by the Sheriff for a maximum of $25.00 per year.

2.  Tier 2 Offender

        A Tier 2 offender is subject to registration/verification requirements every 180 days (six months) for a period of 25 years following their initial registration.   These offenders are  not  subject to neighborhood/community notification.   A $25.00 fee per registration may be collected by the Sheriff for a maximum of $50.00 per year.

3.  Tier 3 Offender

        Offenders designated as a Tier 3 Offender are subject to registration/verification requirements every 90 days for life.   Tier 3 offenders are subject to the neighbor/community notification provision which includes all residents within a 1,000 feet radius of where the offender is residing.   A $25.00 fee per registration may be collected by the Sheriff for a maximum of $100.00 per year.

        Tier 3 Juvenile Offenders are now eligible to be placed on the public web site only if the Juvenile Court where the offender was classified orders that the juvenile be considered “Public Qualified”.  In addition the Court must also determine if “Community Notification” is to be made on Tier 3 Juvenile Offenders.

All Sex Offenders were previously classified in the following classifications prior to the new law taking effect:

Sexual Predator  – Requires community notification and must register every 90 days for life.

Habitual Sex Offender  – Only allows community notification if specifically ordered by the sentencing court and must register once a year                                    for 20 years.

Sexually Oriented Offender  – Does not permit community notification and must register once a year for 10 years.

Child-Victim Oriented Offender  – Does not permit community notification and must register once a year for 10 years.

Habitual Child-Victim Offender  – Only allows community notification if specifically ordered by the sentencing court and must register once                                                 a year for 20 years.

Child-Victim Predator  – Requires community notification and must register every 90 days for life.



To search for offenders in your area click the following link:  www.icrimewatch.net .

For more information on sex offender registration, refer to the Ohio Revised Code, section 2950.