Federal · Title 34 — Crime Control and Law Enforcement

34 U.S.C. § 20920: Public access to sex offender information through the Internet

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute requires jurisdictions to publish sex offender registry information on the Internet with search capabilities by zip code or radius, while exempting certain information like victim identity and some offender details from public disclosure.

Read the full statutory text
Except as provided in this section, each jurisdiction shall make available on the Internet, in a manner that is readily accessible to all jurisdictions and to the public, all information about each sex offender in the registry. The jurisdiction shall maintain the Internet site in a manner that will permit the public to obtain relevant information for each sex offender by a single query for any given zip code or geographic radius set by the user. The jurisdiction shall also include in the design of its Internet site all field search capabilities needed for full participation in the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website and shall participate in that website as provided by the Attorney General. the identity of any victim of a sex offense; the Social Security number of the sex offender; any reference to arrests of the sex offender that did not result in conviction; and any other information exempted from disclosure by the Attorney General. any information about a tier I sex offender convicted of an offense other than a specified offense against a minor; the name of an employer of the sex offender; the name of an educational institution where the sex offender is a student; and any other information exempted from disclosure by the Attorney General. The site shall include, to the extent practicable, links to sex offender safety and education resources. The site shall include instructions on how to seek correction of information that an individual contends is erroneous. The site shall include a warning that information on the site should not be used to unlawfully injure, harass, or commit a crime against any individual named in the registry or residing or working at any reported address. The warning shall note that any such action could result in civil or criminal penalties.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.