Michigan Sex Offender Registry Information

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is a database which contains the names, addresses, and other detailed information about sex offenders living in the state. The Michigan Sex Offender Registry was created in 1994; it was established by the Michigan Sex Offenders Registration Acts, which comprise the public acts 286, 287, 294 and 355 of 1994. This legislation was passed in response to the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act (42 USC 14071 et seq.) of 1994, which directed state legislatures to establish specific requirements of persons who are convicted of certain kinds of sexual crimes.

More information regarding the Michigan Sex Offenders Registration Act can be accessed at
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(4dybhajsjrxcvg55minj4255))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=mcl-act-295-of-1994&queryid=6439389&highlight.

The Michigan Department of State Police and the Registry

The Michigan Sex Offenders Registration Acts charged the Michigan Department of State Police with updating the registry and maintaining the data contained in the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. The Michigan Department of State Police also works closely with the legislature so that any kind of change that takes place in the Michigan Sex Offenders Registration Act is followed accordingly. Just like other law enforcement agencies, sex offenders can register and change their addresses at the Michigan Department of State Police. The Michigan sex offender law is also enforced by personnel from the Michigan Department of State Police, and the department arrests offenders who fail to comply with the law.

Availability of the Registry to the Public

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is available to the general public as a safety measure. The information is useful in helping citizens protect themselves and their loved ones from convicted sex offenders. The Michigan State Police have been ordered to update and preserve a public registry by the Sex Offenders Registration Act, MCL 28.721et seq. In addition to this Sex Offenders Registration Act, MCL 28.721et seq. also provides detailed guidelines about the kind of offender information that is available to the public. The legislature acknowledges that those who have been convicted of committing an offense under the act are a considerable threat to the safety, health, morals, and welfare of the individuals residing in Michigan. The children of Michigan are considered to be most vulnerable to this threat.

Any person convicted of a sex crime in Michigan is required to register with the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. This measure provides a reliable method of monitoring sex offenders, thus promoting safety among the citizens of the state. More information concerning the registry is available at http://www.mipsor.state.mi.us/.

As of February 3, 2009, as many as 43,964 sex offenders have registered with the Michigan sex offender registry. Among them, 14,788 offenders have been imprisoned, and 25,467 sex offenders are required to verify their addresses on either an annual or quarterly basis.