Find Sex Offenders in Tompkins County

Tompkins County sex offenders are tracked through the New York State Sex Offender Registry maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services. The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office at 779 Warren Road in Ithaca works with DCJS to monitor all registered sex offenders in the county. Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders can be searched online through the state registry at no cost. Level 1 sex offender data is only available by phone. Tompkins County does not maintain its own separate sex offender database, so all public searches go through the state system.

Tompkins County Sheriff and Sex Offender Monitoring

The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office is the primary local law enforcement agency responsible for sex offender monitoring in the county. The office handles address verification, community notification, and compliance checks for all registered sex offenders throughout Tompkins County. The Sheriff's Office is located at 779 Warren Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. The main phone number is 607-272-2444. Staff can answer questions about sex offenders in Tompkins County or direct callers to the state registry for more detailed searches.

Tompkins County is home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, making it a county with a large student population. The presence of higher education institutions adds a layer to sex offender monitoring. Under SORA, sex offenders in New York are required to notify the registry of any institution of higher education at which they are enrolled, attending, or employed. They must also report if they reside in a facility operated by the institution. Changes in status at the college or university must be reported to DCJS within 10 days. When a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves into Tompkins County, the Sheriff's Office is required by Correction Law Section 168-l to notify community organizations including schools and colleges.

Level 3 sex offenders and those designated as sexual predators must personally verify their address every 90 days at the Sheriff's Office or their local police agency. This in-person check is required by SORA. If the offender's appearance has changed, deputies may take a new photo and send it to DCJS for the registry. The Tompkins County Jail, also run by the Sheriff's Office, houses pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates including those awaiting SORA risk level hearings.

How to Search for Sex Offenders in Tompkins County

Tompkins County does not run its own sex offender database. All searches go through the NYS Sex Offender Registry online directory. You can search by last name, by county, by ZIP code, or view all offenders in Tompkins County. The search is free. It runs 24 hours a day. Results show photos, addresses, convictions, vehicle info, and conditions of supervision for each listed sex offender.

Only Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders show up in the online directory. State law keeps Level 1 sex offenders off the public website. To check if a specific person is a Level 1 sex offender in Tompkins County, call the registry at 1-800-262-3257. You need the person's name plus one of these: an exact address, date of birth, driver's license number, or Social Security number. The phone line is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, not counting legal holidays. You can also call the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office at 607-272-2444 for local sex offender questions.

Residents of Tompkins County can sign up with NY-ALERT to get free notifications. The system sends an email, text, fax, or phone call when a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves into or out of your area. You can register up to three locations by county, ZIP code, or specific address. Many people use their home, workplace, and a child's school. This service has been running since March 2010 and only covers sex offenders in the public subdirectory.

Sex Offender Disclosure at Tompkins County Colleges

Tompkins Cortland Community College requires sex offender disclosure under New York State law. The Sex Offender Registration Act mandates that registered sex offenders notify DCJS of any institution of higher education at which they are enrolled, attending, employed, or residing in a campus facility. This applies to all colleges and universities in Tompkins County, including Cornell University, Ithaca College, and Tompkins Cortland Community College. Changes in status must be reported within 10 days.

Tompkins Cortland Community College Campus Police consists of sworn peace officers who operate around the clock, every day of the year. The college provides links to the DCJS Sex Offender Registry so students, faculty, and staff can look up registered sex offenders in the area. Students and parents can also use the state registry to search for sex offenders near campus housing and facilities. This requirement exists to help protect campus communities from potential threats.

Sex Offender Risk Levels in Tompkins County

Every sex offender in Tompkins County gets a risk level set by a judge after a court hearing. The judge reviews the facts of the case. Use of force, victim age, number of victims, and whether drugs or weapons were involved all factor into the score. Two sex offenders convicted of the same crime in Tompkins County can end up with different risk levels based on the specifics of their cases. This process is governed by the Sex Offender Registration Act, found in Correction Law Article 6-C, Section 168 et seq.

Level 1 is low risk. These sex offenders register for 20 years unless they carry a special designation. Their address info is limited to ZIP code. Level 2 is moderate risk. Full address is public. Level 3 is high risk and a threat to public safety. Full address is public, and Level 3 sex offenders must verify their address every 90 days in person. Both Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders are listed in the online subdirectory. A judge can also designate a sex offender as a sexual predator, sexually violent offender, or predicate sex offender. Any of those designations means lifetime registration regardless of the assigned risk level.

Sex Offender Registration Requirements in Tompkins County

Sex offenders convicted in Tompkins County must register with DCJS at the time of sentencing. The court certifies the person as a sex offender and sends the registration form to DCJS. The data goes into the Sex Offender Registry database. DCJS then forwards the info to the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office or whatever local police agency covers the offender's address. For offenders going to jail or prison, the Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders gets notified at least 120 days before release. The Board reviews the case and makes a risk level recommendation to the court 60 days before release.

All registered sex offenders in Tompkins County must report any change of address within 10 days. They must also disclose internet accounts, email addresses, and screen names to DCJS. This requirement comes from the Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act, added by Chapter 67 of the Laws of 2008. Failure to register, verify, or provide required info is a felony. A first offense is an E felony. A second or later offense is a D felony. Non-compliance can also lead to revocation of parole or probation.

Community Notification for Tompkins County Sex Offenders

The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office compiles and maintains a list of vulnerable organizations in the county. This list includes school superintendents, parks superintendents, public and private libraries, school bus companies, daycare centers, nursery schools, pre-schools, neighborhood watch groups, community centers, civic associations, nursing homes, victim advocacy groups, and places of worship. When a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves into a part of Tompkins County, the Sheriff's Office sends relevant information to these organizations so they can take proper precautions.

For Level 2 sex offenders, the Sheriff's Office may share the offender's photo, exact name, aliases, address, crime of conviction, mode of operation, type of victim targeted, and special conditions. Level 3 sex offenders get the broadest notification. Their info goes to all the organizations on the vulnerable entities list, and DCJS puts them in the online subdirectory. The SORA legal framework spells out exactly what info can be shared at each risk level.

Where Sex Offenders Can Live in Tompkins County

SORA does not restrict where sex offenders can live in Tompkins County. There are no statewide buffer zones around schools or parks for registered sex offenders. The New York State Court of Appeals has ruled that local governments cannot create their own sex offender residency restrictions. The Sexual Assault Reform Act (SARA) does bar certain sex offenders from knowingly entering school grounds or living within 1,000 feet of school grounds when the victim was under 18 or the offender is Level 3. Sex offenders on parole or probation in Tompkins County may also have case-specific conditions set by their supervising officer.

Nearby Counties

Sex offenders who move between counties must update their registration within 10 days. The following counties border Tompkins County.