Rhode Island Sex Offender Regulations

Sex offenders who are living, attending school, or are employed in Rhode Island must register according to the guidelines of the Rhode Island sex offender registry. Information regarding the registry is released by the Parole Board's Sex Offender Community Notification Unit at http://www.paroleboard.ri.gov. The Unit can also be contacted at:
Sex Offender Community Notification Unit
Varley Building, 40 Howard Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: 401 462 0905
Fax: 401 462 0916

The information made available by the Sex Offender Community Notification Unit is provided as a service to the public to promote safety from sexual predators.
 

Classification of Rhode Island Sex Offenders

According to Rhode Island general law, sex offenders are classified based on their convictions. Sex offenders are those criminals who have been charged with sexual offenses such as rape, child molestation, kidnapping, incest and other offenses. A low risk offender is termed to be a level 1 sex offender; a moderate risk offender is considered to be a level 2 sex offender; a high risk Rhode Island sexual offender is considered to be a level 3 offender. The public can only obtain information regarding level 2 and level 3 offenders on the internet. Rhode Island law does not allow information related to level 1 sex offenders to be disseminated online.

The risk level of the offender is also determined by the offender’s potential to commit crime again. Citizens of Rhode Island can access the list of level 2 sex offenders at http://www.paroleboard.ri.gov/sexoffender/olist/listings.php?level=II; the list of level 3 sex offenders is available at http://www.paroleboard.ri.gov/sexoffender/olist/listings.php?level=III.  Website users can also search for sex offenders in Rhode Island by zip code and city at http://www.paroleboard.ri.gov/sexoffender/olist/search.php. If a Rhode Island citizen is aware of changes to a sex offender's information that are not reflected on the website, he or she can report the discrepancy to a local law enforcement agency.

Rhode Island Sex Offender Registration

A Rhode Island sex offender must provide certain information at the time of registration, including his or her name, aliases, date of birth, gender, residential address, height, weight, hair color, eye color, and any identifying marks, scars, or tattoos. A description of the offender's vehicle is also recorded, as well as the name and address of any higher learning school being attended by the individual in Rhode Island and information regarding the offender's place of employment in Rhode Island.

A sexually violent predator is required to register every year with the local law enforcement agency. Juveniles found to be sexual offenders must also register in person with a local law enforcement agency. After release from confinement, juveniles are registered for 15 years from the date of their release.

To confirm the registrant's physical address, the Parole Board’s Sex Offender Community Notification Unit mails a verification form to the address that has been last reported by the registrant. The sex offender must sign the form and mail it back within 10 days of receiving it. This is to ensure that Rhode Island sex offenders are living at the same address that was last reported to the local law enforcement agency. Sex offenders are required to report changes of residential address, school address, or place of employment address, and must re-register in those situations. A registrant's information must be updated upon change of address, and it is up to the registrant to provide notification of such changes.