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Sex Offender Registration Program Information

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department feels you have the right to know about registered sex offenders in your neighborhood. We believe you need to be well informed and this site is intended to achieve that goal.

Pierce County has over 2,500 registered sex/kidnapping offenders residing within the incorporated and unincorporated portions of its boundaries. This fact may create fear and concern for some members of the Pierce County community.

It is important to understand the laws related to sex/kidnapping offenders and to know the intention and the limitations of these laws. This site has been developed to help educate and inform the public about the Sex Offender/Kidnapping Registration program and the laws relating to the program. Fear can be reduced and a sense of security is enhanced when a community is well informed. Education brings awareness to individual neighborhoods and helps community members know what activities are occurring in their area.

We invite you to use this site to educate yourself and others about the registered sex/kidnapping offenders in your community.

As we interpret Washington State disclosure regulations, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department provides information through the use of the Offender Watch program on 'Level 2' and 'Level 3' sex offenders who are considered a high risk to re-offend once they are out of custody after serving the required sentence for their crime(s). The 'Level 2' offender information will include a photograph of the subject, a physical description, and an approximate address to the nearest hundred block; the 'Level 3' offender information will include a photograph of the subject, a physical description, an approximate address to the nearest hundred block, and a brief narrative of the subject's sex crime and other criminal history. Please take the opportunity to find out more about registered sex/kidnapping offenders and the laws pertaining to offender registration and classification.

Registered Sex Offenders in Pierce County

The Washington State Registered Sex Offender Law began in 1990. The law was later amended to include kidnapping offenders in the registration program (1997). Since the law was enacted, over 2,500 convicted sex/kidnapping offenders have registered in Pierce County. In accordance with the law, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department is required to maintain the registration information for the convicted offenders living in the entire Pierce County area. Local Law Enforcement agencies in the incorporated areas of Pierce County are responsible for making sure the offenders living in those jurisdictions are residing at the addresses they reported on their registration forms.

The ages of registered offenders presently living in our area range from age 13 to age 96. Of the 2,500+ offenders, over 30 are under the age of 16. Approximately 6% are over the age of 60. Females make up approximately 3% of the offenders. Pierce County has registered about 16% of the total convicted sex/kidnapping offenders in the state, even though the county contains about 12% of the total state population.

The Sex/Kidnapping Offender Registration Law allows the Pierce County Sheriff's Department to register and track convicted offenders. However, the law does not allow the Sheriff's Department to dictate where the offender lives. The State Department of Corrections does have limited authority to restrict living choices for offenders who are still on probation or parole for their crime(s). The Registration Law is a useful tool for law enforcement officials and the community. It allows us to gather and maintain information on convicted sex/kidnapping criminals living in our community. Again it is a tool, and not a source to create fear or hatred within the community. This site is not meant to violate anyone's privacy or livelihood. It is a tool to inform the public and provide information as allowed by State Law. Please do not misuse or abuse the information we have provided on this Internet site.

About Classification Levels

When an offender is released from custody and placed back to the community, the Washington State Department of Corrections Community Protection Unit evaluates the offender. They determine the risk classification level for the offender. This evaluation is based on a complex scoring and review process. Community safety is a primary factor in the process. The classification levels basically have the following meanings:

Level 1 - These offenders present the lowest possible risk to the community and their likelihood to re-offend is considered minimal. They normally have not exhibited predatory type characteristics and most have successfully participated or are participating in approved treatment programs. Many are first time offenders.

Level 2 - These offenders present a moderate risk to the community and they have a higher likelihood of re-offending than the Level 1 offenders. They are considered a higher risk to re-offend, because of the nature of their previous crime(s) and lifestyle (drug and alcohol abuse and other criminal activity). Some have refused to participate or failed to complete approved treatment programs.

Level 3 - These offenders pose a potential high risk to the community and are a threat to re-offend if provided the opportunity. Most have prior sex crime convictions as well as other criminal convictions. Their lifestyles and choices place them in this classification. Some have predatory characteristics and may seek out victims. They may have refused or failed to complete approved treatment programs. Fewer than 3% of all registered sex offenders in Pierce County are classified as Level 3 offenders .

Washington State's Sex Offender / Kidnapping Offender Registration program was one of the original programs in the nation and is often used as a model by other states. Most laws pertaining to the program may be found in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).

Authority for local law enforcement agencies can be found in RCW 9A.44.130.

Information and laws related to the disclosure of information can be found in RCW 4.24.550 . Many agencies choose not to disclose information on their web sites about 'Level One' offenders because of the language in this RCW section.

Sex offense definitions can be found in RCW 9A.44.

Thank you for taking the time to visit this site. This information is provided to educate and inform you of what is going on in your community. Please use this site in a positive way and help to make our community safe for everyone.