Access Clinton County Sex Offenders

Clinton County sex offenders are registered through the New York State Sex Offender Registry maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services. The Clinton County Sheriff's Office at 25 McCarthy Drive in Plattsburgh monitors all registered sex offenders in this North Country county. Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders can be searched for free through the state online directory. Level 1 sex offender information requires a phone inquiry to the state registry. The Sheriff's Office verifies addresses and handles community notification for sex offenders across Clinton County.

Clinton County Sheriff and Sex Offender Tracking

The Clinton County Sheriff's Office is located at 25 McCarthy Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. The main phone number is 518-565-4300. The office manages sex offender registration monitoring and law enforcement throughout Clinton County. Deputies handle address verification, investigate violations of the Sex Offender Registration Act, and conduct community notification when Level 2 or Level 3 sex offenders relocate to the county. The Clinton County Jail is operated by the Sheriff's Office and houses inmates including those awaiting SORA risk level hearings.

Clinton County sits in the northeastern part of New York State, near the Canadian border. The Sheriff's Office coordinates with DCJS for all sex offender monitoring duties. Under Correction Law Section 168-l, the office must notify vulnerable organizations when a moderate or high risk sex offender moves into Clinton County. This includes schools, daycare centers, nursery schools, neighborhood watch groups, community centers, nursing homes, and places of worship. The notification process is a required part of the SORA framework that governs how sex offenders are tracked and how communities are informed about their presence.

Level 3 sex offenders in Clinton County must verify their addresses every 90 days in person with the Sheriff's Office or their local police agency. This quarterly check is mandated by state law. If the offender's appearance has changed, officers may take a new photo and send it to the DCJS registry database. Failure to verify is treated as a felony.

How to Find Sex Offenders in Clinton County

The NYS Sex Offender Registry online directory is the primary search tool for sex offenders in Clinton County. There is no separate county database. The search accepts last name, county, ZIP code, or a request to view all offenders in Clinton County. It is free and available 24 hours a day. Results include photos, addresses, convictions, vehicle details, and supervision conditions for Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders.

Level 1 sex offenders are not available in the online directory. Correction Law Article 6-C restricts their data to phone inquiries only. Call the state 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. Staff answer from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. You can also call the Clinton County Sheriff at 518-565-4300 for local sex offender questions.

Clinton County residents can register with NY-ALERT for free notifications. The system sends alerts by email, text, fax, or phone when a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves into or out of your community. You can set up to three locations by county, ZIP code, or specific address. Sign up through the NYS Sex Offender Registry website. This system has been running since March 15, 2010.

Sex Offender Risk Levels in Clinton County

A judge assigns a risk level to every sex offender in Clinton County after a court hearing. The judge examines factors like use of force, victim age, number of victims, and drug or weapon involvement. The risk assessment produces Level 1 (low risk), Level 2 (moderate risk), or Level 3 (high risk). Two sex offenders convicted of the same crime can receive different levels based on the specifics of their cases. This scoring process follows the Sex Offender Registration Act, codified in Correction Law Article 6-C, Section 168 et seq.

Level 1 sex offenders register for 20 years if they have no special designation. Their address is restricted to ZIP code. Level 2 sex offenders have their full address made public. Level 3 sex offenders must verify their address in person every 90 days. All Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders register for life. A court can also designate a sex offender as a sexual predator, sexually violent offender, or predicate sex offender. Any designation triggers lifetime registration regardless of risk level. Under Correction Law Section 168-o, a Level 2 sex offender with no designation who has been registered for at least 30 years may petition for relief from further registration.

Sex Offender Registration Requirements in Clinton County

Sex offenders convicted in Clinton County register at sentencing. The court certifies the person as a sex offender and sends the registration form to DCJS. The data goes into the registry database. DCJS forwards the info to the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. For offenders going to prison, the Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders gets notified at least 120 days before release. The Board makes a risk level recommendation 60 days before release. The court holds a hearing and sets the risk level at least 30 days before the offender is released.

All registered sex offenders in Clinton County must report any address change 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 (Chapter 67 of the Laws of 2008). Failure to comply with any registration requirement is a felony. First offense is an E felony. Later offenses are D felonies. Non-compliance can also lead to revocation of parole or probation. Level 1 and Level 2 sex offenders submit updated photos every three years. Level 3 sex offenders submit photos every year.

Clinton County Sex Offender Community Notification

The Clinton County Sheriff's Office maintains a list of vulnerable organizations in the county. When a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves in, the office sends relevant information to these entities. For Level 2 sex offenders, the notice may include the offender's photo, name, aliases, exact address, crime of conviction, and mode of operation. Level 3 sex offenders receive the broadest notification and are listed in the DCJS online subdirectory. The list of entities includes school superintendents, parks superintendents, libraries, school bus companies, daycare centers, community centers, civic associations, nursing homes, victim advocacy groups, and places of worship.

Nearby Counties

Sex offenders who move between counties must update their registration within 10 days under SORA. These counties border Clinton County.