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You can check
for more information about the New York State Sex Offender Registry and
the
Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) at his website, http://www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/
The Sex Offender Registration
Act, New York's version of Megan's Law, was signed by Governor George
E. Pataki in July 1995 and became effective on January 21, 1996. The text
of the statute is contained in Correction Law Article 6-C (Section 168
et seq.).
Registered sex offenders in New York are classified by the risk of reoffense.
A court determines whether an offender is a level 1 (low risk),
2 (moderate risk) or 3 (high risk).
The court also determines whether an offender should be given the designation
of a sexual predator, sexually violent offender or predicate sex offender.
Sex offenders registered on or after March 11, 2002 register for a minimum
of 10 years unless they have been given a designation. If they have been
given a designation, they register for life. Level 1 and 2 sex offenders
registered prior to March 11, 2002 register for 10 years while level 3
offenders register for life.
There are 4 ways to obtain information about sex offenders in New York
State:
- You can call 1-800-262-3257
to determine if someone is on the Registry. You will need the name of
the offender and one of the following: an exact address, a complete
date of birth, a driver's license number or a social security number.
- You can access
the Subdirectory of Level 3 Sex Offenders at http://www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/
by clicking on the "Search for Level 3 Sex Offenders" button.
You can search for level 3 offenders by name, county or zip code. Please
note that a federal court injunction currently prohibits the release
of information on this web site concerning sex offenders who committed
their crime prior to January 21, 1996 and were assigned a risk level
prior to January 1, 2000.
- The local law enforcement
agency where the offender currently resides, can, if it chooses, release
information on sex offenders residing in the community to "entities
with vulnerable populations related to the nature of the offense".
The law enforcement agency can only release information on level 2 and
level 3 offenders through this method. Also, while the exact address
of level 3 offenders can be provided, the law provides that only an
approximate address based on zip code can be provided for level 2 offenders.
Please note that a federal court injunction currently prohibits the
release of information through this method concerning sex offenders
who committed their crime prior to January 21, 1996 and were assigned
a risk level prior to January 1, 2000.
- Each local law enforcement
agency receives from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice
Services a copy (electronically or on a CD ROM) of the Subdirectory
of Level 3 Sex Offenders. Local law enforcement is required
to maintain the Subdirectory for the public to view upon request.
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