Whether you’ve just moved or have lived in the same house for 20 years—you should periodically check for any sex offenders in your area to keep yourself and your family safe. If you aren’t sure how, here are five ways you can locate any sex offenders living near your home.
DOJ’s National Sex Offender Public Registry
The United States Department of Justice published the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) in 2005 to help families stay safe. This website should be your first stop for finding information about sex offenders in your area. To search, just click “search by location” in the Quick Search box and type in your address. NSOPW then shows any dangers near the address.
This site also links you to your state’s Public Registry website. Below the Quick Search box, there is a section where you can select your state. From there, NSOPW directs you to the public registry of your state.
Your State or Territory’s Public Registry
Each state and territory has a public registry website where you can look up sex offenders who live near you. These sites are updated consistently to give you current information about your area. While each registry is laid out in a different way, most allow you to search using your address. The site then displays any offenders who may be in your area along with an approximate address.
These registries reveal laws regarding sex offenders that may pertain to the general public, such as who is legally required to register as a sex offender and what he or she must do about notifying you when moving to a new area.
Your state’s registry website can also be found on the NSOPW. The directory is below the Quick Search box. You can also find your state’s website on the FBI's Sex Offender Registry Website.
Criminal Watch Dog
At Criminal Watch Dog, you may be able to get more information about sex offenders in your area compared to what is on your state’s website. At this site, you can not only find where the offender lives but also the person’s name and photo, as well as what he or she was convicted of, including rape, sexual assault, or other crimes.
Criminal Watch Dog also has a much wider range than many state registry websites. Most only allow you to search within the immediate area, but this site will show you results within a 5-mile, 10-mile, or 20-mile radius. To search your area is free, but there are options you can pay for if you want more information. Paying will give you any aliases used by the offender and an entire criminal record. There are different tiers available to purchase—$18.95, $27.95, and $38.95.
Family Watchdog
Family Watchdog is another great website that provides you with plenty of information. Searching for offenders is completely free, and you’re provided with an offender's picture, name, date of birth, age, height, weight, hair, eyes, and much more. You are given the offender’s address as well as the state in which he or she was required to register.
Family Watchdog is partnered with a website called BeenVerified that will perform an entire criminal record search on any individual you choose. If you are worried about a particular offender in your area, you can pay $22.86 for a one-month membership to receive a full report that includes the person’s social media accounts and complete criminal record.
If you’re worried about missing information on offenders in your area, Family Watchdog also allows you to sign up for notifications on when an offender moves in or out of your neighborhood. Plus, these monthly emails include safety tips.
Local Police Department
If you’re looking for an offline source, you can always contact your local police department. The police should be more than happy to assist you with any search and to ensure that your family is safe. Before you move into an area, you should also check with your local police department to see that the area is as safe as possible.
