Washington Sex Offender Registry Access

Individuals convicted of sexual offenses, especially against children, such as rape, kidnapping, and incest, must be registered as sex offenders in the state of Washington. Information about the state of Washington's laws regarding sex offenders is available at the Washington State Sex Offender Information Center website.

Aside from registration issues and general information, the site also informs the general public, including victims and witnesses of crimes and concerned parents, about the locations of certain sex offenders. This is a measure taken to promote public safety; however, the information available to the public should not be used for threatening or harassing sex offenders. Misuse of this information can result in criminal liability.

The State of Washington has strict laws governing the availability of information about sex offenders within the state. The Washington sex offenders registry categorizes each registrant as a level 1, level 2, or level 3 offender. A level 1 sexual offender is considered to pose a low risk to the community; the Sheriff’s office discloses only certain information on these offenders, upon request. Level 2 offenders are considered to be a moderate risk to the community and are suspected of being at a higher probability of committing another sexual offense. They are required to participate in sex offender treatment programs. Level 3 offenders are considered to pose the greatest risk to communities; the sheriff’s office offers information regarding these offenders to schools and child day care centers as well as organizations and businesses serving women and children.
 

Searching for Washington Sex Offenders

Visitors to the Washington sex offender search website can conduct a search of in-state offenders at http://ml.waspc.org/Counties.aspx. This site allows users to search by county.

If a user finds that a sex offender is not listed in the registry or that the information regarding a particular offender is inaccurate, he or she can report the discrepancy to the local sheriff’s office or law enforcement agency. Citizens of Washington can also request information from local law enforcement on sex offenders living in their communities. Those with questions concerning the Washington state sex offender registry can contact the appropriate authorities at:
Washington State Patrol
Criminal Records Division
PO Box 42619
Olympia, WA 98504-2619
(360) 534-2000

Those with questions for the Washington State Sex Offender Information Center can address their concerns to:
Washington State Sex Offender Information Center
ML Webmaster
WASPC
3060 Willamette Drive SE, Suite 200
Lacey, WA 98516
(360) 486.2380
E-mail: MLWebmaster@waspc.org

Parents and custodians, as well as individuals employed in providing care for children, will be held liable if they knowingly leave a child in the company of a sex offender who is not the parent, lawful custodian, or guardian of the child. Leaving a child in the care of a sex offender is a misdemeanor.

Washington Sex Offender Registration

The Community Protection Act of 1990 states that registration is mandatory for sex offenders; the act requires offenders to register with primary legislative intent by providing the necessary information to the agency with which they register. An individual must provide certain information when registering as a sex offender, including his or her name, aliases, phone number, age, sex, date of birth, a recent photograph, current residential address, height, weight, eye color, and hair color, as well as details of any scar, mark, tattoo, or any other distinguishing feature that would aid in identifying the offender.

Other information collected upon registration includes details of any vehicle that the offender is driving or possesses, the offender's social security number and fingerprints, the name and address of any school that he or she attends in Washington, the name and address of any company currently employing the offender in Washington, and any other relevant details.