Herkimer County Sex Offenders

Herkimer County sex offenders are monitored through the New York State Sex Offender Registry run by the Division of Criminal Justice Services. The Herkimer County Sheriff's Office handles local sex offender tracking and works with DCJS to make sure registrants in the county comply with the law. You can search for Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders in Herkimer County online at no cost, or call 1-800-262-3257 to ask about Level 1 sex offenders. This page covers the search tools, contact info, risk levels, and registration rules that apply to sex offenders in Herkimer County.

How to Search for Sex Offenders in Herkimer County

The NYS Sex Offender Registry search page is the main way to find sex offenders in Herkimer County. The search is free. It runs all day, every day. Select "Herkimer" from the county list to see all Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders registered in the county. Each result shows photos, home addresses, convictions, aliases, and vehicle details.

Level 1 sex offenders are not in the online directory. State law does not allow their info on the public website. To check if someone is a Level 1 sex offender in Herkimer County, call the toll-free line at 1-800-262-3257. You need the person's name and one more identifier: an exact address, date of birth, driver's license number, or Social Security number. Staff are available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.

You can also go to the Herkimer County Sheriff's Office to search the subdirectory in person. Staff will help you look up sex offenders near your home, workplace, or school. This is a good option if you want to discuss your concerns with someone directly or if you need help navigating the search tool.

Herkimer County Sheriff's Office

The Herkimer County Sheriff's Office is at 320 North Main Street, Herkimer, NY 13350. The main phone is 315-867-1176. The office handles sex offender registration monitoring, law enforcement, civil process, court security, and jail operations across Herkimer County. Staff coordinate with the state Division of Criminal Justice Services to keep track of sex offenders who live, work, or attend school in the county.

Herkimer County stretches from the Mohawk Valley into the southern Adirondacks. The sheriff's office is the primary law enforcement body for the rural areas of the county. When a Level 3 sex offender moves into a Herkimer County community, the office manages the community notification process required by Correction Law Article 6-C. Schools, daycare providers, places of worship, and community centers in the area get notified about the sex offender's presence.

The Herkimer County Jail is run by the sheriff's office. For concerns about sex offenders near you, call the main number or visit during business hours. Staff can tell you who is on the registry in your area and what their risk level is. They can also help you sign up for NY-ALERT notifications so you get updates about sex offender movement near your home.

Sex Offender Risk Levels in Herkimer County

Every sex offender in Herkimer County gets a risk level from a judge after a court hearing. The judge uses a point system that considers the type of crime, victim age, use of force or weapons, number of victims, and prior criminal history. The total score determines the level.

Level 1 means low risk. Address info is limited to ZIP code. These sex offenders register for 20 years unless they carry a designation. Level 2 means moderate risk. Full address is public. Level 3 means high risk. Full address is public, and Level 3 sex offenders must come to the Herkimer County Sheriff's Office every 90 days to verify their address in person. Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders appear in the online public subdirectory.

A judge can also give a sex offender a designation: sexual predator, sexually violent offender, or predicate sex offender. Any designation triggers lifetime registration regardless of risk level. All Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders register for life under SORA. A Level 2 sex offender without a designation who has been on the registry at least 30 years can petition for relief under Correction Law Section 168-o.

SORA and Herkimer County Sex Offenders

New York's Sex Offender Registration Act sits in Correction Law Article 6-C, Section 168. SORA has been in effect since January 21, 1996. It requires sex offenders convicted of certain crimes to register with the state. The law also covers people convicted in other states, federal courts, or military courts if the offense matches a New York registerable crime.

Under SORA, sex offenders in Herkimer County must report any change of address within 10 days. Internet accounts, email addresses, and screen names also must be reported within 10 days. The Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act from 2008 added these rules. Failure to comply with any registration requirement is a class E felony for the first offense and a class D felony for any later offense. Noncompliance can also lead to revocation of parole or probation.

SORA sets out the community notification framework. Level 3 sex offenders get the broadest disclosure. Law enforcement must actively notify nearby schools, daycares, and community groups. Level 2 sex offenders are in the online subdirectory. Law enforcement may share their info with entities that serve vulnerable people. Level 1 sex offenders are only available through the toll-free phone line. These rules work the same in Herkimer County as in every other county in New York.

How Sex Offender Registration Works in Herkimer County

Registration starts at conviction. The court certifies the defendant as a sex offender and sends the registration form to DCJS. If the offender will live in Herkimer County, DCJS passes the data to the sheriff's office.

For sex offenders leaving jail or prison, the process starts earlier. The Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders gets word at least 120 days before release. The Board sends a risk level recommendation to the court 60 days before the person gets out. The court holds a hearing and sets the risk level at least 30 days before release. The facility registers the offender at least 15 days before and sends the form to DCJS at least 10 days before. Correction Law Section 168-l(8) provides that a missed deadline by any agency does not erase the sex offender's obligation to register.

Probation cases follow a quicker track. The court registers the sex offender at sentencing. A risk level hearing is set at least 45 days later, though parties can agree to hold it at sentencing. The DA makes a recommendation at least 15 days before the hearing.

Sex Offender Alerts for Herkimer County

DCJS runs a free alert system through NY-ALERT. Sign up to get an email, text, or phone call when a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves into or out of a location you care about in Herkimer County. Track up to three spots by county, municipality, ZIP code, or address. Register at the NYS Sex Offender Registry website. Level 1 sex offenders are not in the alerts. The system has been active since 2010.

Contact Info for Herkimer County Sex Offender Inquiries

Use these contacts for sex offender questions in Herkimer County.

• Herkimer County Sheriff: 315-867-1176
• Address: 320 North Main Street, Herkimer, NY 13350
• 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 covers common questions about sex offender registration duration, risk levels, and compliance in New York.

Nearby Counties

Herkimer County is in central New York and borders several other counties. Each has a sheriff's office that monitors sex offenders at the local level.