Search Colonie Sex Offenders

Colonie sex offenders are tracked by the Colonie Police Department and the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. This Albany County town works with the Albany County Sheriff's Office to monitor all registered sex offenders in the area. Residents can search for Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders online at no cost through the state registry.

Colonie Police and Sex Offender Monitoring

The Colonie Police Department handles sex offender monitoring in the town. You can reach them at 518-783-2744. Officers verify addresses of registered sex offenders in Colonie and work with DCJS to keep all registry data current. When a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves into Colonie, the police department notifies schools, daycare centers, and other organizations serving vulnerable populations. This notification is required by Correction Law Section 168-l.

Level 3 sex offenders in Colonie must verify their address in person every 90 days at the Colonie Police Department. If the offender's appearance has changed since the last photo, officers may take a new one and send it to the state registry. Level 2 sex offenders do not have the 90-day check but must still report any address change within 10 days. Both levels face felony charges for failing to comply with SORA registration requirements.

The Albany County Sheriff's Office at 518-434-9091 assists with sex offender monitoring across the county. Colonie and the Sheriff work together when sex offenders move between the town and other parts of Albany County. The Albany County District Attorney's Office handles SORA risk level hearings for sex offenders who will live in Colonie after conviction or release from jail or prison. This process gives every sex offender in the town a court-assigned risk level.

How to Search for Sex Offenders in Colonie

Colonie does not run its own sex offender database. All searches go through the NYS Sex Offender Registry online directory. You can search by last name, county, ZIP code, or view all sex offenders in Albany County. The search is free and runs 24 hours a day. Results include photos, addresses, convictions, vehicle info, and supervision conditions for each listed sex offender in Colonie.

Only Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders show up online. State law keeps Level 1 sex offenders off the public website. To find out if someone is a Level 1 sex offender in Colonie, call the registry at 1-800-262-3257. You need the person's name and one identifier: an exact address, date of birth, driver's license number, or Social Security number. The phone line is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also call the Colonie Police at 518-783-2744 for local sex offender questions.

Colonie residents can sign up with NY-ALERT for free notifications. The system sends an email, text, or fax when a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves into or out of the Colonie area. You can register up to three locations by ZIP code, municipality, or specific address. This service has been running since March 2010 and covers only sex offenders in the public subdirectory.

Sex Offender Risk Levels in Colonie

Every sex offender in Colonie gets a risk level set by a judge after a court hearing. The judge reviews the case facts: use of force, victim age, number of victims, and weapon involvement. Two sex offenders convicted of the same crime can end up with different risk levels. The process follows the Sex Offender Registration Act in Correction Law Article 6-C.

Level 1 is low risk. These sex offenders register for 20 years unless they have a special designation. Address info is limited to ZIP code. Level 2 is moderate risk. Full address is public. Level 3 is high risk and a threat to public safety. Level 3 sex offenders must verify their address every 90 days in person with the Colonie Police. Both Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders are listed in the online subdirectory.

A court can also designate a sex offender as a sexual predator, sexually violent offender, or predicate sex offender. Any designation triggers lifetime registration. Level 1 sex offenders without a designation register for 20 years. All Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders register for life. A Level 2 offender registered for at least 30 years with no designation can petition the court for relief under Correction Law Section 168-o.

Sex Offender Registration Rules in Colonie

Sex offenders living in Colonie must register with DCJS at sentencing. The court certifies the person as a sex offender and sends the form to the state. DCJS enters the data and forwards it to the Colonie Police Department. For sex offenders leaving jail or prison, the Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders is notified at least 120 days before release. The Board makes a risk level recommendation to the court 60 days before release.

All registered sex offenders in Colonie must report address changes within 10 days. They must also disclose internet accounts, email addresses, and screen names to DCJS under the Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act. Failure to register or verify is an E felony for a first offense and a D felony for any later offense. Non-compliance can also result in revocation of parole or probation for sex offenders under supervision in Colonie.

Community Notification for Colonie Sex Offenders

The Colonie Police Department keeps a list of vulnerable organizations in the town. When a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves into Colonie, police notify schools, daycare centers, libraries, school bus companies, neighborhood watch groups, community centers, nursing homes, victim advocacy organizations, and places of worship. The scope of notification depends on the sex offender's risk level.

For Level 2 sex offenders, police can share the offender's photo, name, aliases, address, conviction, and mode of operation with entities serving vulnerable groups. Level 3 sex offenders get the broadest disclosure and are listed in the online subdirectory. Colonie residents who want real-time alerts about sex offender movement should sign up for NY-ALERT through the DCJS website.

Where Sex Offenders Can Live in Colonie

SORA does not restrict where sex offenders can live in Colonie. There are no statewide buffer zones around schools or parks for registered sex offenders. The Court of Appeals ruled that local governments cannot create their own sex offender residency restrictions. The Sexual Assault Reform Act bars certain sex offenders from entering school grounds or living within 1,000 feet of school grounds when the victim was under 18 or the offender is Level 3. Sex offenders on parole or probation in Colonie may have additional conditions set by their supervising officer.

Albany County Sex Offender Resources

Colonie is part of Albany County. The Albany County Sheriff's Office assists with sex offender monitoring throughout the county. For county-wide sex offender information, see the Albany County sex offender page.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Sex offenders who move between communities must update their registration within 10 days. The following nearby areas also have sex offender information pages.