Erie County Sex Offenders

Erie County sex offenders are monitored by the Erie County Sheriff's Office in coordination with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. Erie County is the most populous county in western New York and includes the city of Buffalo along with several large suburban towns. The sheriff's office tracks sex offenders across the county, and a dedicated Sex Offender Registry Deputy handles inquiries from the public. You can search for Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders in Erie County for free through the state online subdirectory or call 1-800-262-3257 for Level 1 sex offender information.

How to Search for Sex Offenders in Erie County

The NYS Sex Offender Registry search page is the primary tool for finding sex offenders in Erie County. The search is free and runs 24 hours a day. Select "Erie" from the county list to view all Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders in the county. Results include photos, home addresses, convictions, aliases, and vehicle information. You can also search by last name or ZIP code to narrow your results.

Level 1 sex offenders are not in the online search. State law bars them from the public website. To check if someone is a Level 1 sex offender in Erie County, call 1-800-262-3257. You need the person's name plus one more identifier: an exact address, date of birth, driver's license number, or Social Security number. The phone line runs 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.

Erie County also has a Sex Offender Registry Deputy. You can call Deputy Alicia Gordon at (716) 858-3285 for sex offender information. This is a local contact point for residents who want help navigating the registry or who have concerns about a sex offender in their area. The deputy can assist with searches and point you to the right resources.

Erie County Sheriff's Office

The Erie County Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement across Erie County, including Buffalo and the surrounding towns. The office handles sex offender monitoring, address verification, and community notification. The sheriff's office works with DCJS to make sure sex offenders in Erie County comply with their registration duties under SORA.

The ID Bureau can be reached at (716) 858-7618 for police reports and arrest records. The bureau is on the first floor at 134 West Eagle Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. For fingerprint-based criminal history checks, you need a notarized application form and a fingerprint card done in person at the ID Bureau. The fingerprint card costs $25 and the criminal history check costs $25, with $1 for each extra copy.

Erie County operates two detention facilities. The Erie County Holding Centre and the Erie County Correctional Facility house offenders arrested in Buffalo and throughout the county. The sheriff's office also handles patrol, civil process, and court security. For sex offender concerns, the office is your main local contact along with the dedicated registry deputy.

Sex Offender Risk Levels in Erie County

Every sex offender in Erie County gets a risk level from a judge after a court hearing. The judge uses a scoring system that weighs the type of crime, the victim's age, use of force or weapons, number of victims, and past criminal record. The total score maps to one of three levels.

Level 1 is low risk. These sex offenders register for 20 years. Address info is limited to ZIP code. Level 2 is moderate risk. Full address is public. Level 3 is high risk. Full address is public. Level 3 sex offenders must verify their address in person every 90 days with the Erie County Sheriff's Office or their local police department in Buffalo or other municipalities. Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders are listed in the online subdirectory.

A court may also designate a sex offender as a sexual predator, sexually violent offender, or predicate sex offender. These labels mean lifetime registration regardless of risk level. All Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders register for life. A Level 2 sex offender without a designation who has been registered for at least 30 years can petition the court for relief under Correction Law Section 168-o.

SORA and Erie County Sex Offenders

The Sex Offender Registration Act is codified in Correction Law Article 6-C, Section 168. SORA took effect in 1996. It requires sex offenders convicted of certain crimes to register with the state. The law applies statewide and covers all of Erie County. SORA also covers people convicted in other states if the offense matches a New York registerable offense.

Under SORA, sex offenders must report any address change within 10 days. The same rule applies to internet accounts, email addresses, and screen names. The Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act, added in 2008, requires all registered sex offenders to report online identifiers to DCJS. Failure to comply with any registration requirement is a class E felony for the first offense and a class D felony for repeat violations.

SORA sets up the community notification process. When a Level 3 sex offender moves into an Erie County neighborhood, local law enforcement must tell schools, daycare centers, places of worship, and other vulnerable populations. Level 2 sex offenders trigger a different level of notification where law enforcement can share info with entities serving vulnerable groups. Level 1 sex offenders get no public notification beyond what the toll-free phone line provides.

How Sex Offender Registration Works in Erie County

Registration begins at conviction. The court certifies the person as a sex offender and sends the form to DCJS. If the offender will live in Erie County, DCJS forwards the info to the sheriff's office.

For sex offenders leaving prison, the Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders gets notified at least 120 days before release. The Board makes a risk level recommendation to the court 60 days before release. The court holds a hearing and sets the level at least 30 days before the person gets out. The jail or prison registers the offender at least 15 days before release. Under Correction Law Section 168-l(8), a missed deadline does not remove the offender's duty to register.

Probation cases move on a faster timeline. The court registers the sex offender at sentencing. A risk level hearing is scheduled at least 45 days after sentencing. The DA makes a recommendation at least 15 days before the hearing. In many cases the parties agree to hold the hearing right at sentencing.

Sex Offender Alerts for Erie County

Sign up for free alerts through NY-ALERT to find out when a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves into or out of your part of Erie County. You can get alerts by email, text, fax, or phone call. Track up to three locations by county, municipality, ZIP code, or address. Register through the NYS Sex Offender Registry website. The alert system does not cover Level 1 sex offenders.

Contact Info for Erie County Sex Offender Inquiries

Erie County has several contact points for sex offender questions.

• Sex Offender Registry Deputy Alicia Gordon: (716) 858-3285
• Erie County Sheriff's Office ID Bureau: (716) 858-7618
• ID Bureau Address: 134 West Eagle Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
• DCJS toll-free: 1-800-262-3257
• DCJS main: 518-417-3384
• DCJS email: SORRequests@dcjs.ny.gov

The DCJS contact page has full details for the state registry. The registry FAQ answers common questions about registration, risk levels, and compliance. For Erie County court records, the Erie County Clerk's Office at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo handles civil and criminal filings.

Sex Offenders in Erie County Cities and Towns

Erie County includes Buffalo and several large suburban communities. Each has local police that work with the sheriff's office on sex offender monitoring. Search for sex offenders in these communities through the links below.

Nearby Counties

Erie County borders several counties in western New York. Each has its own sheriff's office monitoring sex offenders.