Search Washington County Sex Offenders

Washington County sex offenders are tracked through the New York State Sex Offender Registry run by the Division of Criminal Justice Services. The Washington County Sheriff's Office at 399 Broadway in Fort Edward works with DCJS to monitor all registered sex offenders in the county. Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders can be found online through the state registry at no cost. Level 1 sex offender data is only available by calling the toll-free line. Washington County does not run its own separate sex offender database, so all public searches use the state system.

Washington County Sheriff and Sex Offender Monitoring

The Washington 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 Washington County. The Sheriff's Office is located at 399 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828. The main phone number is 518-747-7520. Staff can answer questions about sex offenders in Washington County or direct callers to the state registry for more detailed searches.

Washington County borders Vermont along the eastern edge of New York State. The county is largely rural with small towns and agricultural land. The Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement presence for most of the county. When a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves into Washington County, the Sheriff's Office is required by Correction Law Section 168-l to notify community organizations. Schools, daycare centers, neighborhood watch groups, community centers, places of worship, nursing homes, and other groups that serve vulnerable populations all receive notice. The office coordinates with village police departments and New York State Police for localized monitoring tasks.

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 Washington 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 Washington County

Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County Sheriff's Office at 518-747-7520 for local sex offender questions.

Residents of Washington 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 Risk Levels in Washington County

Every sex offender in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County

Sex offenders convicted in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County Sex Offenders

The Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County

SORA does not restrict where sex offenders can live in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County.