Chemung County Sex Offenders

Chemung County sex offenders are registered through the New York State Sex Offender Registry maintained by DCJS. The Chemung County Sheriff's Office at 211 William Street in Elmira handles local monitoring of all registered sex offenders in the county. Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders can be searched online through the state directory at no charge. Level 1 sex offender data is available only through the state phone line. The Sheriff's Office coordinates with DCJS on address verification, community notification, and compliance enforcement throughout Chemung County.

Chemung County Sheriff and Sex Offender Enforcement

The Chemung County Sheriff's Office is located at 211 William Street, Elmira, NY 14901. The main phone number is 607-737-2920. The office manages sex offender registration monitoring and law enforcement across the county. Deputies verify addresses, investigate registration violations, and conduct community notification when Level 2 or Level 3 sex offenders move into Chemung County. The Chemung County Jail is operated by the Sheriff's Office and houses pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates.

The Sheriff's Office coordinates with DCJS for all sex offender monitoring duties in Chemung County. Under Correction Law Section 168-l, the office must notify vulnerable organizations when a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender relocates to the area. Schools, daycare centers, nursery schools, community centers, neighborhood watch groups, nursing homes, and places of worship are all on the notification list. The Sheriff's Office maintains this list and updates it as organizations change. This is a core part of the community safety framework set up by the Sex Offender Registration Act.

Level 3 sex offenders in Chemung County must verify their addresses every 90 days in person with the Sheriff's Office. Failure to verify is a felony under SORA. The Sheriff's Office also handles sex offender photo updates when an offender's appearance has changed during a verification visit.

Searching for Sex Offenders in Chemung County

The NYS Sex Offender Registry online directory is the tool for finding sex offenders in Chemung County. You can search by last name, county, ZIP code, or view all offenders in the county. The search is free and available around the clock. Results include photos, addresses, convictions, vehicle info, and conditions of parole or probation for Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders.

Level 1 sex offenders are not in the online directory. Correction Law Article 6-C keeps them off the public site. To find out if someone is a Level 1 sex offender in Chemung County, call 1-800-262-3257. You need the person's name and one identifier: exact address, date of birth, driver's license number, or Social Security number. Staff answer from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. The Chemung County Sheriff's Office at 607-737-2920 can assist with local sex offender inquiries as well.

Sex Offender Risk Levels in Chemung County

A judge assigns a risk level to every sex offender in Chemung County after a court hearing. The judge examines the case and scores factors like use of force, victim age, number of victims, and drug or weapon use. The result is Level 1 (low risk), Level 2 (moderate risk), or Level 3 (high risk). Two sex offenders convicted of the same offense can receive different levels based on individual case details. This process is governed by SORA, found in Correction Law Article 6-C, Section 168 et seq.

Level 1 sex offenders register for 20 years without a special designation. Address info is limited to ZIP code. Level 2 sex offenders have their full address made public and register for life. Level 3 sex offenders must verify their address in person every 90 days and register for life. A court can designate a sex offender as a sexual predator, sexually violent offender, or predicate sex offender. Any designation means lifetime registration. Under Correction Law Section 168-o, a Level 2 sex offender with no designation registered for at least 30 years can petition for relief.

Sex Offender Registration Process in Chemung County

Registration starts at conviction. The court certifies the offender and sends the form to DCJS. For probation cases, the court registers the sex offender at sentencing, and a risk level hearing is scheduled at least 45 days later (though both parties often agree to hold it at sentencing). The District Attorney makes a recommendation at least 15 days before the hearing. For prison cases, the Board of Examiners is notified at least 120 days before release. The Board makes a recommendation 60 days before release. The court holds a hearing and sets the risk level at least 30 days before release.

All sex offenders in Chemung County must report address changes within 10 days. Internet accounts, email addresses, and screen names must be reported to DCJS. Failure to comply is an E felony for the first offense and a D felony for later offenses. Level 1 and Level 2 sex offenders submit updated photos every three years. Level 3 sex offenders submit photos yearly.

Sex Offender Notification for Chemung County Residents

Chemung County residents can sign up for NY-ALERT to get free notifications about sex offender relocations. Alerts come by email, text, fax, or phone when a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves into or out of your community. You can register up to three locations. Sign up at the NYS Sex Offender Registry website. Only sex offenders in the public subdirectory are covered by the alert system.

Nearby Counties

Sex offenders who relocate across county lines must update their registration within 10 days. These counties border Chemung County.