The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says more than 16,000 people are listed in the Alabama Sex Offender Registry. ALEA keeps track of all these names, updating and managing the state’s sex offender list.
While this number represents the total registered offenders, not all of these individuals are available for public dissemination. Some offenders may be excluded from public listings due to various factors, such as juvenile status or other legal considerations.
The ALEA Sex Offender Registry serves as a paramount tool for public safety, allowing residents to access information about registered sex offenders in their communities. Local law enforcement agencies play a great role in this process by registering offenders and providing updates to the state registry.
For the most up-to-date and accurate information about registered sex offenders in Alabama, you can use the ALEA Community Information Center or contact your local law enforcement agency directly.
How does the sex offender registration process work?
All convicted sex offenders and those out on parole or probation are required by law to offer information about themselves including their full name, employment status and place and house address for inclusion in the central registry. Any change in residential status or address has to be notified to the local sheriff’s department from where it finds its way into the AI database.
Every year in the birth month of the offender, the Department of Public Safety mails a form to the last known address of the offender which has to be completed and mailed back to the Department for verification along with a current photograph and set of fingerprints.
Registered offenders are segregated into 3 levels depending on the seriousness of their crime; in the state of Alabama, records on Level 1 offenders, who are people found guilty of sexual misconduct and indecent exposure, is not open for public viewing. Only names of convicted people who have served time for offenses listed in the Community Notification Act 15-20-21 are included in the registry.
Also, information on juvenile and youth offenders is not included in the registry although this is available to law enforcement officials. Individuals who have been convicted in a federal court or by a judicial entity outside of the state of Alabama or an Indian reservation will also not be made a part of the database until a process hearing has been completed.
How to find sex offenders in Alabama?
Here are the main ways to find information about registered sex offenders in Alabama:
Use the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Sex Offender Registry website:
The ALEA maintains a searchable online database of registered sex offenders in Alabama. You can search by name, address, city, county, or zip code. This is the official state registry and is updated regularly.
Check local law enforcement websites:
Many county sheriff’s offices and city police departments in Alabama provide sex offender information or links to search tools on their websites. For example, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Montgomery Police Department offer sex offender lookup capabilities.
Use the OffenderWatch service:
Several Alabama law enforcement agencies use OffenderWatch to manage their sex offender registries. This service allows you to search for offenders and sign up for email alerts about offenders in your area.
Contact local law enforcement directly:
You can contact your local police department or sheriff’s office to inquire about registered sex offenders in your area. They may be able to provide additional information not available online.
Use the National Sex Offender Public Website:
This federal website allows you to search registries from all 50 states, including Alabama.
Sign up for community notifications:
Some jurisdictions in Alabama offer email or mail notifications when a registered sex offender moves into your neighborhood. Check with local law enforcement about availability.
When using these resources, keep in mind:
- Not all convicted sex offenders are listed publicly due to legal restrictions.
- Information is updated regularly but may not always reflect an offender’s current status or location.
- The registry is meant to inform the public, not to encourage vigilantism or harassment of offenders.
If you have specific concerns, it’s best to contact your local law enforcement agency directly for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
Enhancing Public Safety: OffenderWatch® Utilization Across Alabama
All sheriffs across Alabama, in collaboration with the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center, employ OffenderWatch® as the primary local data collection platform for offender registration, electronic reporting to the state, address validation, and mandatory community notifications.
approximately half of Alabama’s sheriffs provide comprehensive OffenderWatch® web portals equipped with email alert functionalities to keep citizens informed. This integrated system ensures efficient management and proactive community engagement in offender monitoring and public safety initiatives statewide.
you can check if you’re county sheriff is on the list here.
What does it mean if you find the name of a person in the sex offender registry?
The sex offender notification law only places restrictions on residency and employment of people convicted of sexual crimes. While as a general rule, an offender cannot live with a minor, there are some exceptions. For instance, a known sex offender can live with his minor children as long as he is the parent, grandparent or the step parent of such a child/children, as long as the victim of his crime was not a minor under his supervision.
If an offender has been found guilty of crimes against minors, he cannot be found loitering in areas that are frequented by children like parks, schools, day care facilities etc. Such an offender may be allowed to pick his/her children from such areas but he should not exceed the time absolutely necessary to perform such a task.
Protecting Privacy: Exceptions in Alabama’s Sex Offender Registry
there are some exceptions to the public availability of sex offender information in Alabama. Here are the key points regarding exceptions to public disclosure:
-
Juvenile offenders: Information about juvenile sex offenders is generally not made public. The Alabama Sex Offender Registry does not include all offenders due to juvenile status.
-
Youthful Offender Act (YOA) cases: Offenders who were adjudicated under the Youthful Offender Act may not have their information publicly disseminated.
-
Out-of-state offenders: Some out-of-state offenders may not be included in the public registry, depending on the nature of their offense and registration requirements in their original jurisdiction.
-
Victim protection: The identity of any victim of a sex offense is exempt from public disclosure to protect their privacy and safety.
-
Pending cases: Information about offenders whose cases are still pending or under appeal may not be made public until a final conviction is reached.
-
Special circumstances: In some cases, a judge may order certain offender information to be withheld from public disclosure if there are compelling reasons to do so.
-
Limited disclosure: While most adult offender information is public, some specific details (like exact home addresses) may be restricted to protect the offender’s safety and prevent vigilantism.