top of page
Sex-Offenders-Header-1100x275.jpg

Sex Offender Registry

The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Registry Unit registers all sex offenders who live in Davidson County who are required to register by North Carolina Law. The Sex Offender Registry Unit registers, confirms addresses of registered offenders and arrests those offenders in violation of North Carolina General Statutes.  The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Registry Unit consists of two civilian positions and two sworn deputies who are Detectives.  Our two civilian team members maintains a public database of individuals convicted of sex offenses, which is accessible to the public and law enforcement.  They provide information to the public about registered sex offenders, including their names, addresses and other relevant information.  Our two Detectives ensure the enforcing of compliance with registration requirements, which are governed by North Carolina.  They also monitor and ensure Davidson County registered sex offenders adhere to the registration requirements and restrictions.  Sex Offenders who fail or violate the registry requirements are criminally charged and prosecuted.  Our Sex Offender Registry Unit informs the public about the importance of the registry and the responsibilities of those who are required to register.  These requirements are crucial for the safety of the community and the protection of potential victims. 

The North Carolina General Assembly recognized that sex offenders often pose a high risk if engaging in sex offenses even after being released from incarceration or commitment and that protection of the public from sex offenders is of paramount governmental interest.  The General Assembly also recognized that person who commit certain other types of offenses against minors, such as kidnapping, pose significant and unacceptable threats to the public safety and welfare of the children on the State of North Carolina, and protection of those children is of great Governmental interest.  Starting in 1995, North Carolina requires any person who is a convicted sex offender who lives within the agency’s jurisdiction, to registered with the Sheriff due to the enactment of Article 27A of Chapter 14 of the North Carolina General Statutes (NCGS 14-208.5).  This law requires a person who is a resident of North Carolina and who has a reportable conviction to maintain registration with the Sheriff of the County where the person resides. If the person moves to North Carolina from outside this State, the person shall register within three (3) days of establishing residence in this state, or whenever the person has been present in the State for 15 days, whichever comes first.

If the person is a current resident of North Carolina, the person shall register:

​

  • Within three (3) days of release from a penal institution or arrival in a county to live outside a penal institution on or after Jan. 1, 1996; or

  • Immediately upon conviction for a reportable offense where an active term of imprisonment was not imposed on or after Jan. 1, 1996.

​

When the offender is released from prison, local jail or convicted in court with no active time, the reportable offender information is entered into a Statewide Registry as a "pending" registration status. If the reportable offender does not register with the county Sheriff within the required time period, the Statewide system will flag the record as a "Failure to Register" which assists law enforcement officials in tracking and requiring offenders to register. Once the offender has registered with the appropriate county sheriff, the registration information is updated in the statewide Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry by the registering county Sheriff. This information is immediately made available to the public online at the NC Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry or by submitting a written request to the appropriate county sheriff for a county wide registry.

5-Things-to-Know-About-the-North-Carolina-Sex-Offender-Registry.jpg

Any sex offender who is convicted of a reportable offense that requires registration must register in person at the Sheriff’s Office of the county in which they reside for any and all updates to their registration including but not limited to:

​

  • Required Address Verification

    • Quarterly for those with a designation of recidivist, aggravated offender, or sexually violent predator

    • Bi-yearly for general offenders 

  • Change of address, academic status or educational employment status

  • Out of county employment and residency

  • Name change

  • Use of online identifiers

  • Working or attending institutions of higher education

  • Scars, marks, and tattoos

  • Change of employment and work status

  • Accessibility to vehicles

  • Changes to facial features or hair styles

Common Sex Offender related questions:

​

  • Can a sex offender be around children? Yes. The law prohibits sex offenders from supervising children that are not their own. It also prevents them from going to certain places where “children frequently congregate,” parks, and school property. 

​

  • Can a sex offender live near children? Yes. The law states a sex offender cannot live within 1,000 feet of a school or daycare.
     

  • Can a sex offender go to a fair, carnival, library, swimming pools, or amusement park? No. These are defined in NC law as places children “frequently congregate” which sex offenders are not allowed to be.
     

  • Can I be notified if a sex offender moves into my neighborhood? Yes. You can sign up at http://signup.ncsbi.gov/ and receive notifications when a sex offender moves within one (1), three (3), or five (5) miles of your residence.

How do I report a possible registration violation? Anyone with information regarding violations of registry laws is encouraged to contact the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Registry Unit at 336-242-2136

bottom of page