Search Ontario County Sex Offenders

Ontario County sex offenders are monitored by the Ontario County Sheriff's Office and tracked through the NYS DCJS registry.

How to Find Sex Offenders in Ontario County

The NYS Sex Offender Registry online subdirectory lets you look up sex offenders in Ontario County at no cost. Choose "Ontario" from the county list to see all Level 2 and Level 3 offenders. The search is available 24 hours a day. Each result shows the offender's photos, home address, conviction details, aliases, and vehicle information.

Level 1 sex offenders are not in the online database. To check on a Level 1 offender, call 1-800-262-3257. You need the person's name and one piece of identifying info such as their exact address, date of birth, driver's license number, or Social Security number. The line is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ontario County is a Finger Lakes region county with a mix of rural areas and small cities. The sheriff's office handles sex offender monitoring across the entire county, from Canandaigua to the smaller towns along the lakefront. Contact the sheriff's office directly if you have concerns about a specific offender or need info not available online.

Ontario County Sheriff's Office

The Ontario County Sheriff's Office is the primary agency for sex offender monitoring in the county. The office handles address verification, compliance checks, community notifications, and enforcement actions against offenders who fail to comply with SORA requirements.

• Address: 3045 County Complex Drive, Canandaigua, NY 14424
• Phone: 585-396-1800
• Emergency: 911

Deputies visit sex offender residences to verify addresses on a regular schedule. Level 3 offenders must appear at the sheriff's office every 90 days for in-person address verification. The office also runs the Ontario County Jail. Offenders who violate registration rules are held there pending court appearances.

The sheriff's office works with DCJS to keep records current. When a sex offender moves into or out of Ontario County, the office updates the registry and carries out any required notifications to schools, daycare centers, and community groups. If you suspect an offender is not living at their registered address, contact the sheriff's office with the details.

Sex Offender Risk Levels in Ontario County

Each sex offender in Ontario County gets a risk level assigned by a judge after a court hearing. The judge uses a standardized scoring tool that weighs factors including the nature of the offense, use of force, victim age, number of victims, substance involvement, and prior criminal history.

Level 1 means low risk. Address info is limited to ZIP code only. Registration lasts 20 years unless the offender carries a special designation. Level 2 means moderate risk. Full address is public. Registration is for life. Level 3 means high risk. Full address is public. Registration is for life. The offender must verify their address in person every 90 days at the sheriff's office.

A judge may also designate an offender as a sexual predator, sexually violent offender, or predicate sex offender. These designations mean lifetime registration at any risk level. A Level 2 offender without a designation who has been registered for at least 30 years may petition the court for relief from registration duties under Correction Law Section 168-o.

How SORA Works in Ontario County

The Sex Offender Registration Act in Correction Law Article 6-C governs sex offender registration in Ontario County. SORA took effect on January 21, 1996, and requires individuals convicted of certain sex offenses to register with the state. This includes New York convictions, equivalent convictions from other states, and federal or military offenses that match a New York registerable offense.

Ontario County Court handles SORA risk level hearings. The county District Attorney recommends a risk level to the judge based on the facts of each case. For offenders being released from prison, the Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders provides a recommendation 60 days before release. The court holds a hearing and issues its decision at least 30 days before the person gets out.

For probation cases, the court registers the offender at sentencing and holds a risk level hearing at least 45 days later. The DA submits a recommendation at least 15 days before the hearing. In some cases both sides agree to hold the hearing on the day of sentencing itself, which speeds the process up.

Community Notification in Ontario County

Ontario County residents can register for NY-ALERT to receive free notices about sex offenders moving into or out of their area. Sign up through the NYS Sex Offender Registry website. Choose up to three locations by county, ZIP code, or address. Alerts come by email, text, fax, or phone call.

The sheriff's office handles local community notifications. When a Level 3 sex offender moves into an Ontario County neighborhood, the office alerts schools, daycare centers, places of worship, community centers, and similar organizations. For Level 2 offenders, notification is more limited but still reaches groups serving vulnerable populations. The subdirectory is also available for viewing at the sheriff's office during regular hours.

Sex Offender Residency Rules in Ontario County

New York does not impose statewide residency buffer zones on sex offenders. Ontario County has no local restrictions either. The Court of Appeals ruled in People v. Diack that local governments cannot pass their own sex offender residency laws because the state occupies that entire field of regulation.

The Sexual Assault Reform Act does bar certain offenders from living within 1,000 feet of school grounds. This applies to offenders whose victim was under 18 or who are classified as Level 3. Parole and probation officers may add individual conditions, such as keeping away from parks or areas where children gather. These are set on a case-by-case basis, not as a blanket county rule.

Nearby Counties

Check these nearby counties if you need to search for sex offenders in areas around Ontario County.