A registered sex offender is a person who was convicted of a sex-related crime. As part of the person's sentence, the government requires them to register in their county or state of residence as a sex offender. Sex offender registries generally include the offender's address, physical appearance, and crimes for which they're required to register.
All states in the United States require individuals convicted of certain sex crimes to register for a defined period of time. People convicted of more violent or serious crimes typically must remain on the registry for longer periods. While on the registry, some sex offenders are required to update their address every year or each time they move.
Sex offender registry searches and candidate selection
To be a registered sex offender, a person must meet the conditions below:
- Be convicted of a sex crime
- Have a sentencing requirement of registering as a sex offender in their state or county of residence
- Register as a sex offender, usually through the sheriff’s department in the person's county of residence
A sex offender registry search helps identify whether someone might be a risk to a vulnerable population, the general public, or employees and customers.
Note that different states can have different registration requirements. Just because someone is on one state registry, they might not be on another state registry if they move.
Sex offender registry search process
Checkr searches sex offender registries from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and tribal territories of the United States. Checkr’s sex offender registry search includes all public registries nationwide. The search results include offenses and personal identifiers, such as birth date. Checkr confirms results using national and state sources, including the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW).
Note
Some states categorize their sex offender registry information by level and might not report the registration status of those they categorize as low-risk sex offenders.
The Checkr Quality Assurance (QA) team receives potential sex offender records and conducts additional review before Checkr reports this information. This review may include additional confirmation using the NSOPW and state-specific sex offender registries.
Candidate experience
Checkr’s Basic report package includes the searches below. The sex offender registry search is unavailable as a standalone search.
- Global watchlist records search
- National search
- Sex offender registry search
- Social Security number (SSN) trace
Checkr asks the candidate to submit the personally identifiable information (PII) below:
- Full name
- Birth date
- Social Security number
- Email address
- Phone number
The candidate reads and acknowledge receipt of applicable forms and notifications, including the ones below:
- Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
- Acknowledgment and Authorization for Background Check
After the candidate consents, Checkr begins the search.
Tip
If you've applied for a job and are looking for more information about your background check’s status or progress, log in to the Checkr Candidate Portal.