New York City Sex Offenders

New York City sex offenders are tracked through the state Sex Offender Registry and monitored by the NYPD across all five boroughs. The city spans Kings, Queens, New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties, making it the largest concentration of registered sex offenders in the state. As of May 2009, there were 3,428 Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders living in New York City. The NYPD Special Victims Division runs a 24-hour hotline at 646-610-7272 for sex crimes reporting, and residents can search the NYS DCJS online subdirectory at no cost to find sex offenders in their neighborhood.

NYPD Sex Offender Monitoring in New York City

The NYPD handles sex offender monitoring for all five boroughs of New York City. The department's Special Victims Division is the main unit for sex crimes investigations and registry matters. This division runs a 24-hour hotline at 646-610-7272. The line is staffed around the clock and provides language services for non-English speakers. It should not replace 911 in emergencies. If you are in danger, call 911 first.

The NYPD also maintains a Sex Offender Monitoring Unit. This unit works with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services to track Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders across New York City. Each precinct plays a role in the process. Level 3 sex offenders and those with a sexual predator designation must verify their address every 90 days in person at their local precinct. Officers can take new photos if an offender's appearance has changed. Those photos go straight to the state registry.

The Sex Crimes Report Line is 212-267-RAPE (7273). This line is for reporting sex crimes in New York City. It connects callers to trained staff who can guide them through next steps.

How to Search for Sex Offenders in New York City

Residents of New York City can search for sex offenders in several ways. The fastest method is the NYS Sex Offender Registry online subdirectory. This free tool shows Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders by name, county, or ZIP code. It runs 24 hours a day. You can search across all five boroughs or narrow results to a single county.

Level 1 sex offenders do not appear in the online search. To check if someone is a Level 1 sex offender, call 1-800-262-3257. You will need the person's name plus one identifier: an exact address, date of birth, driver's license number, or Social Security number. Staff answer calls from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. You can also contact the NYPD Sex Offender Monitoring Unit or visit any NYPD precinct to view the subdirectory in person.

Sign up for NY-ALERT to get free notifications by email, text, or phone when a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves into or out of your area. You can register up to three locations.

Sex Offenders Across the Five Boroughs

New York City is unique because it spans five counties. Each borough has its own District Attorney who handles SORA hearings for sex offenders convicted in that jurisdiction. The five DAs set risk levels through separate court proceedings, but all data feeds into the same state registry run by DCJS. This means a single search covers every borough.

Manhattan falls under New York County. Brooklyn is Kings County. Queens is Queens County. The Bronx is Bronx County. Staten Island is Richmond County. Sex offenders in each borough must register with the state and comply with local NYPD monitoring. The rules are the same across all five boroughs because state law governs registration. Local precincts handle the day-to-day checks and address verification for sex offenders in their area.

Sex Offender Risk Levels in New York City

Every sex offender in New York City gets a risk level after a court hearing. A judge scores the offender based on the facts of the case. Factors include use of force, weapons, alcohol or drugs, the victim's age, the number of victims, and the relationship between the offender and victim. Two sex offenders convicted of the same crime can receive different risk levels based on their case details.

Level 1 is low risk. These sex offenders register for 20 years unless they carry a special designation. Their address is limited to ZIP code only. Level 2 is moderate risk. Full address is public and available online. Level 3 is high risk. These sex offenders pose a threat to public safety. Their full address is public, and they must verify it every 90 days at their local NYPD precinct. All Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders register for life under Correction Law Article 6-C.

Courts can also designate a sex offender as a sexual predator, sexually violent offender, or predicate sex offender. Any of these designations means lifetime registration, regardless of risk level.

New York City Family Justice Centers

New York City runs Family Justice Centers in all five boroughs. These centers give free and confidential help to victims of domestic violence and sex crimes. Each center has case managers, counselors, and legal staff on site. Services include civil legal assistance, criminal legal help, and economic empowerment programs. All services are free.

• Manhattan: 80 Centre St, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10013. Phone: 212-602-2800
• Brooklyn: 350 Jay St, 15th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Phone: 718-250-5113
• Bronx: 198 E 161st St, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10451. Phone: 718-508-1220
• Queens: 126-02 82nd Ave, Kew Gardens, NY 11415. Phone: 718-575-4545
• Staten Island: 126 Stuyvesant Pl, Staten Island, NY 10301. Phone: 718-697-4300

The centers work with the NYPD Special Victims Division and each borough's District Attorney. They are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.

Where Sex Offenders Can Live in New York City

New York City cannot set its own rules on where sex offenders live. The Court of Appeals ruled in People v. Diack that local governments lack the power to enact sex offender residency restrictions. The state's statutory scheme under SORA occupies the entire field. This means no city council or borough can pass local laws banning sex offenders from certain areas.

State law does have some limits. The Sexual Assault Reform Act, known as SARA, bars certain sex offenders from knowingly entering school grounds or living within 1,000 feet of school grounds. This applies when the victim was under 18 or when the offender is Level 3. Sex offenders on parole or probation may face case-specific conditions set by their supervision officer. Those conditions might include staying away from parks, schools, or places where children gather. But these are individual restrictions, not blanket rules.

Sex Offender Registration Compliance in New York City

Sex offenders in New York City must comply with all registration requirements under Correction Law Article 6-C. Failure to register or verify an address is an E felony for the first offense. A second violation is a D felony. Non-compliance can also lead to revocation of parole or probation.

Every registered sex offender must report address changes within 10 days. They must also report internet accounts, email addresses, screen names, and social media profiles to DCJS. Changes to online accounts must be reported within 10 days as well. Level 1 and Level 2 sex offenders submit updated photos every three years. Level 3 sex offenders submit photos every year. The NYPD can also take new photos during address checks if the offender's appearance has changed.

Sex offenders who attend, work at, or live at a college or university must notify DCJS of that institution. This requirement applies to all risk levels.

New York City Counties

New York City spans five counties. Each has its own court system and District Attorney handling SORA proceedings for sex offenders. You can find county-specific resources for sex offender monitoring at the links below.

Nearby Cities

These cities near New York City also have sex offender information pages with local resources and contact details.