Questions

Who maintains the sex offender and public protection registry?
Where do sex offenders register in North Carolina?
Who is required to register?
When is an offender required to register?
How can I learn if a person is listed in the Registry?
How can I learn if an offender has moved into my neighborhood?
Are offenders prohibited from living near schools/daycare centers?
I want to share information I found on the Registry. Does the law prohibit me from sharing this information?
What should I do if I think an offender is not registered, or if I think the information contained in the registry is inaccurate?
Are there juveniles on the public sex offender registry?
What are North Carolina’s laws on sex offender registration?
How do I access information about sex offenders listed in other states?
Does the registry include any individuals who are not sex offenders?
What happens if an offender fails to register or fails to verify their address?
Who do I contact if I have more questions?
Answers

Who maintains the sex offender and public protection registry?
North Carolina law requires sex offenders who have been convicted of certain offenses to register with their county sheriff. Information about offenders is then entered into the Registry database by the sheriff’s office and transmitted to the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation collects information submitted by sheriffs in all 100 counties in the state and makes it available to the public via the Sex Offender Registry website.
Where do sex offenders register in North Carolina?
Offenders in North Carolina are required to register with the sheriff in the county where they live.
Who is required to register?
A person who is a North Carolina resident and who has a reportable conviction is required to register with the sheriff of the county in which they reside.

Non-resident students and non-resident workers are also required to register under NC law.

If required to register in another state, individuals should contact the sheriff in the county where they live to determine their registration requirements.

If an individual is uncertain about their registration requirements, they should contact the sheriff in the county where they live.

Please note that some of these requirements will change under a new state law that takes effect December 1, 2006. For more information, see Session Law 2006-247.
When is an offender required to register?
Registration deadlines can vary. See some examples below.
  1. within 10 days of establishing residency in the State
  2. being present in the State for at least 15 days
  3. within 10 days of release from a NC correctional facility
  4. immediately upon conviction of a reportable offense, with no active sentence
  5. when enrolled in a NC institute of higher education
  6. when working in the State for more than 14 days or for a period that will exceed 30 days in a calendar year
Please note that some of these deadlines will change under a new state law that takes effect December 1, 2006. For more information, see Session Law 2006-247.
How can I learn if a person is listed in the Registry?
You can search the public website, www.ncfindoffender.gov/.
How can I learn if an offender has moved into my neighborhood?
You can search the public website or contact your county sheriff. You can also sign up at www.ncfindoffender.gov/ to receive email notices when a sex offender registers to an address in your neighborhood.
Are offenders prohibited from living near schools/daycare centers?
As of December 1, 2006, it is a felony for a convicted sex offender to knowingly reside within 1,000 feet of any school or child care center.  For more information, see Session Law 2006-247.  Additionally, some individuals who are still on active probation or parole may be subject to court mandated limitations on residency.
I want to share information I found on the Registry. Does the law prohibit me from sharing this information?
Information on the website is considered public record. This information is made available for purposes of protecting the public, for increasing awareness, for keeping the public informed and for allowing them to take proactive measures to ensure safety in their communities.

Use and/or misuse of this information by individuals, groups or entities to commit criminal acts (to include, but not limited to, threats, intimidation, stalking, harassment) against other persons is subject to criminal prosecution.

Please remember the following:
  1. Because of certain North Carolina General Statute provisions, juvenile offenders are not included in the public Sex Offender Registry.
  2. The Registry does not include information on those individuals whose sexually violent behavior has not come to the attention of authorities.
  3. The SBI and county sheriffs attempt to ensure that Registry information is accurate and current. Although the database is updated regularly, information can change quickly.
What should I do if I think an offender is not registered, or if I think the information contained in the registry is inaccurate?
If an offender fails to verify his address or fails to register, the person may be subject to criminal penalties.

Contact your county sheriff and provide as much detailed information as possible so the sheriff can look into the matter.
Are there juveniles on the public sex offender registry?
Under state law, information on juvenile offenders is not public record. However, juveniles who are tried as adults in Superior Court and convicted of a sexually violent offense or an offense against a minor must register if an adult convicted of the same offense would have been required to register.
What are North Carolina’s laws on sex offender registration?
Information on “The North Carolina Sex Offender Registration Program” is available in a document published by the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Please note that this document will be updated later this year to reflect a new state law that takes effect December 1, 2006.
How do I access information about sex offenders listed in other states?
Information on other state registries can be found through various advocacy groups, or through the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) National Sex Offender Registry.

  1. State websites: http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/cac/states.htm
  2. National Sex Offender Public Registry: http://www.nsopr.gov
  3. NC Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry: www.ncfindoffender.gov
Does the registry include any individuals who are not sex offenders?
By law, this registry includes some persons who are not sex offenders. Individuals convicted of some crimes involving children, including kidnapping, are also required to register.
What happens if an offender fails to register or fails to verify their address?
A person who is required to register is guilty of a Class F felony if they: Any law enforcement officer who is aware of the violation may immediately arrest the person or seek an order for the person's arrest.
Who do I contact if I have more questions?
Contact your county sheriff’s office or local law enforcement agency.