Sex Offender Registration & Notification Unit (SORN)

442 S. Second Street

Hamilton, Ohio 45011

(513) 785-1246 or (513) 785-1277

Open: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Monday-Friday)

Closed on Weekends and Holidays

 

About e-SORN

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

 

The passage of Senate Bill 5 on July 31, 2003, brought new guidelines for classifying sexual offenders and strengthened the current e-SORN Laws in Ohio. Namely, 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.

 

Classifications under the Tier system are based solely on the specific crime the offender was convicted of. Now, sex offenders are classified as: Tier I Offenders, Tier II Offenders, and Tier III Offenders. From January 1997, all convicted sex offenders have been, and continue to be, subject to the registration requirements of the law.

 

Offender Classification

In the State of Ohio, sex offenders are required to be classified by the Court into one of three categories, or tiers. The laws for the offender registration process have changed several times since the original inception of the registration process, but the main concept has remained the same – different categories have different registration and notification requirements.

 

·   Tier I Offender

o   A Tier I 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.

§  Offenses

·         2907.07 – Importuning

·         2907.04-  Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, non-consensual and offender less than 4 years older than victim, not previously convicted of 2907.02, 2907.03, or 2907.04

·         2907.08- Voyeurism

·         2907.06- Sexual Imposition

·         2907.05 (A)(1)-(3),(5)- Gross Sexual Imposition

·         2907.323 (A)(3)- Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-oriented Material or performance

·         2905.05 (B)- Child Enticement with sexual motivation {new under SB 10}

·         2907.32- Pandering Obscenity

·         2903.211 (A)(3)- Menacing by Stalking with sexual motivation {new under SB 10}

·         2905.03 (B)- Unlawful Restraint with sexual motivation {new under SB 10}

·         Includes an attempt, complicity or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses

·         Child-victim offenders not in Tier II or Tier III

·         Any law from another jurisdiction that is comparable to these offenses shall fall within that same tier

·     Tier II Offender

o   A Tier II 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.

§  Offenses

·         2907.21- Compelling Prostitution

·         2907.321- Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor

·         2907.322- Pandering Sexual Oriented Material Involving a Minor

·         2907.323 (A)(1) and (2)- Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-oriented Material or Performance

·         2907.04- When offender is at least 4 years older; or when the offender is less than 4 years older and has prior conviction for 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04

·         2907.05 (A)(4)- Gross Sexual Imposition victim under 13

·         2919.22 (B)(5)- Child Endangering

·         2905.01 (A)(1)-(3), (5)- Kidnapping with sexual Motivation

·         2905.01 (A)(4)- Kidnapping victim over 18

·         2905.02 (B)- Abduction with sexual motivation {new under SB 10}

·         Any sexual offense that occurs after the offender has been classified as a Tier I offender

·         Includes an attempt, complicity or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses

·         Pre-AWA Habitual offenders, unless re-classified after hearing under ORC 2950.031 or 2950.032

·         Any law from another jurisdiction that is comparable to these offenses shall fall within that same tier

·     Tier III Offender

o   Offenders designated as a Tier III Offender are subject to registration/verification requirements every 90 days for life. Tier III 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. In addition, highest level offenders are generally restricted from living within 1,000 feet of schools and registered day cares / pre-schools. Crime(s) committed prior to July 31, 2003 would be EXEMPT from the SCHOOL STATUTE. Crime(s) committed prior to July 1, 2007 would be EXEMPT from the DAY CARE/PRESCHOOL STATUTE.

o   Tier III 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 III Juvenile Offenders.

o   Public mailings will occur with Sexual Offenders who are classified as Tier III. Public mailings are sent out in a radius of 1,000 ft. from the address of the listed offender, unless the offender has a court ordered "STAY" of notification.

§  Offenses

·         2907.02- Rape

·         2907.03- Sexual Battery

·         2903.01- Aggravated Murder with sexual motivation

·         2903.02- Murder with sexual motivation

·         2904.04 (A)- Unlawful Death or termination of pregnancy as a result of committing or attempting to commit a felony with sexual motivation

·         2905.01 (A)(4)- Kidnapping of minor to engage in sexual activity

·         2905.01 (B)- Kidnapping of minor, not by parent

·         2907.05 (B)- (New section of Gross Sexual Imposition)

·         2903.11- Felonious Assault with sexual motivation.

·         Pre-AWA (Adam Walsh Act) predators unless re-classified after hearing under ORC 2950.031 or 2950.032

·         Any sexual offense that occurs after the offender is classified as a Tier II or Tier III offender

·         Automatic classification after SVP specification 2971.03

·         Includes an attempt, complicity or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses

·         Any law from another jurisdiction that is comparable to these offenses shall fall within that same tier

 

The difference between a child and a youth is their age.

·         A child is 0-12 years of age

·         A youth is 13-17 years of age

 

Offender Requirements

·         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

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

·         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 resides

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

·         All registered sex offenders must report to the county Sheriff all 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

 

For specific information on sex offender registration, refer to the Ohio Revised Code, section 2950 at https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-2950.

 

In addition to the above, all offenders have to register anytime they have a change in their information, such as: change their address, employment, education schedule, vehicle(s) or telephone number(s) volunteer work, internet access information: emails, web sites and social sites. There are no restrictions on their employment; exception would be if the offender is on parole or probation and said conditions are set.

 

Tips to Stay Safe

As law enforcement professionals, we STRONGLY, encourage citizens to practice good "Stranger Danger" techniques:

·         Don’t talk to strangers

·         Don’t help others look for lost pets

·         Report unusual, suspicious actives or behaviors to local police agencies

·         Don’t walk alone; use the buddy system

·         Don’t take the same route of travel every day; switch it up

·         Know who your children are with

·         Employ a Neighborhood Watch Program

 

We rely on tips from the general public, either via our website, the Attorney General website, and Offender Watch website to aid us in tracking sex offenders and/or prosecuting those who fail to register properly. “Tipsters” can always remain anonymous, but in order to obtain as much information as possible and to seek criminal indictments against offenders, it is always important for a “tipster” to leave a contact number where we can clarify information or inquire further into the case.

·         Leave a tip at https://www.butlersheriff.org/submit-a-tip

 

FAQ

·         The Sheriff’s Office cannot refuse any address or location provided by an offender regardless of conviction

·         Offenders, if not on parole or probation, can be on school grounds ONLY if they have official business with that school, daycare or preschool (i.e. the offender has a child that attends that facility) 

·         As required by law, the Sheriff’s Office verifies any and all addresses/locations that an offender provides. If an offender is homeless, that location may very well be a wooded area, parking lot, etc.

 

Additional Information

·         Search the Offender database and register for alerts at https://sheriffalerts.com/cap_office_disclaimer.php?office=55229&fwd=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5pY3JpbWV3YXRjaC5uZXQvcmVnaXN0ZXIucGhwP0FnZW5jeUlEPTU1MjI5

·         Monitor an offender’s status while he/she is incarcerated at https://appgateway.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch

·         Learn more about sexual offenses at https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-2950

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