Community notification laws refer to the various laws in each state on which information regarding sex offenders is released to the public and to other organizations.
There are 32 states with laws that allow some type of notification, or access to information, on sex offenders.
They are generally broken down into the following categories:
- Broad community notification – This pertains to the states that allow the broad release of sex offender information to the general public. There are 13 states that allow broad community notification.
- Notification to organizations and people at risk – This tier of community notification involves notifying organizations and people who are vulnerable or at risk from a specific sex offender. There are eight states that enforce this type of community notification for sex offenders.
- Access to registration information – Under this tier, citizens and organizations are able to obtain sex offender information through local law enforcement agencies. There are 11 states with this type of community notification law on the books.
What are the community notification laws in Oklahoma?
In Oklahoma, the following rules apply to sex offender notification:
- Adult sex offenders are subject to the notification rules.
- The state maintains a statewide database of sex offenders.
- Sex offender registries are maintained by local law enforcement agencies.
- Registration information can only be released to public and private elementary schools, state licensed child care facilities and providers, and entities that provide services to children.
What information is included on the Oklahoma sex offender registry?
In Oklahoma, sex offenders are required to include the following information on their registries:
- Name
- Alias
- Date of birth
- Sex
- Race
- Weight
- Eye color
- Social security number
- Driver’s license number
- Home address
- Description of offense.
It’s worth noting that child care facilities and other child service centers are not allowed to see the sex offender’s home address.
How does Oklahoma’s law measure up with other laws?
A recent analysis of state laws regarding sex offender community notification proved the following to be true:
- In most cases, sex offender notification is saved for the high-risk offenders or those who have been convicted of crimes against children.
- There are various methods for notifying the community, including press releases, flyers, newspaper ads and mailouts.
- The people who are notified usually learn the offender’s name, photo, approximate address, description of crime and age of the victim.
- Usually, the general public has access to the sex offender information, but Oklahoma is one of the few that only allows access to organizations that deal with children.
Do you have questions about sex offender community notification laws? Are you a sex offender who doesn’t understand the registry? Contact Jacquelyn Ford Law today for a consultation.
