e.S.O.R.N.
Sex Offender Registration and Notification
A sex offender is a person who has been convicted of, or plead guilty to, adjudicated delinquent by reason of committing an offense which is either inherently sexual, or which involved a sexual motivation. In 1994 the Federal Crime Act contained a provision called “The Jacob Wetterling Act,” which required all states to pass a sex offender registration and notification law.
Ohio’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification law (S.O.R.N.), is designed to provide the public with adequate notice and information about those convicted sex offenders that have returned to the community. Most recently in 2007, the Ohio State Legislature passed Senate Bill 10, which implemented the Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act of 2006, a federal law which requires the classification of sex offenders into three tiers based on the severity of the offense. These offenders must register their home, school, and work addresses, report any changes in addresses, and periodically verify addresses with the sheriff in each respective county. Failure to comply with registration duties is a criminal offense.
As of January 2011 there are 121 sex offenders that reside in Belmont County. Through e.S.O.R.N., the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office monitors these offenders and shares information with the community to make it a safer place. If you have any questions or concerns about sex offenders, please contact Sgt. James Zusack at 740-695-7933 ext. 134.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do only sex offenders register under S.O.R.N?
A: No. Offenders who commit certain non-sexual offenses against children, such as kidnapping, are also required to register. This type of offender is labeled a “Child-Victim Offender,” and is subject to the same registration and restrictions as a Sexually Oriented Offender.
Q: Is every offender who ever committed a sex offense in Ohio required to register?
A: No. The S.O.R.N. Act became effective on July 1, 1977, and was written so that only persons who were in prison or jail as of that date, or who were convicted of a new offense after that date, would be required to register.
Q: What address must a homeless person give as their “residence?”
A: The place where they sleep and keep their belongings. A homeless shelter, a friend’s house, or any physical location where the person actually resides can be a valid residence address. The S.O.R.N. Act does not permit a person to give a post office box or other mailing address as their residence address.
Q: Which S.O.R.N. registrants are not allowed to live near school premises?
A: The S.O.R.N. Act prohibits adult offenders from establishing a residence withing 1,000 feet of any school premises. (This does not include colleges.) However, this prohibition does not apply to rental agreements entered into before July 31, 2003, or to juvenile offenders.
Q: Are school bus stops “school premises?”
A: “School premises” for the purposes of S.O.R.N. means, roughly, either 1) property on which a school is situated, or 2) property that a state-regulated school board or other school governing body owns or leases, where some school instruction, extracurricular activities, or training takes place.
Sexually Oriented Offenses by Tier
Tier I
2907.07 Importuning
2907.04 Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, non-consensual and offender less than 4 years older than victim, not previously convicted of 2907.02, 2907.03, or 2907.04, or former 2907.12 (FSP) [1]
2907.08 Voyeurism
2097.06 Sexual Imposition
2907.05 (A)(1)-(3), (5) Gross Sexual Imposition
2907.323 (A)(3) Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-oriented Material or Performance
2905.05 (B) Child Enticement with sexual motivation (New under SB10)
2907.32 Pandering Obscenity
2903.211 (A)(3) Menacing by Stalking with sexual motivation (New under SB10)
2905.03 (B) Unlawful Restraint with sexual motivation (New under SB10)
Includes an attempt, complicity or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses
Tier II
2907.21 Compelling Prostitution
2907.321 Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor
2907.322 Pandering Sexually Oriented Material Involving a Minor
2907.323 (A)(1) and (2) Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-oriented Material or Performance
2907.04 when offender is at least 4 years older; or when the offender is less than 4 years older and has prior conviction for 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, or former 2907.12 (FSP)
2907.05 (A)(4) Gross Sexual Imposition victim under 13
2919.22 (B)(5) Child Endangering
2905.01 (A)(1)-(3), (5) Kidnapping with sexual Motivation
2905.01 (A)(4) Kidnapping victim over 18
2905.02 (B) Abduction with sexual motivation (new under SB 10)
Any sexual offense that occurs after the offender has been classified as a Tier I offender
Includes an attempt, complicity or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses
Pre-AWA Habitual offenders, unless re-classified after hearing under ORC 2950.031 or 2950.032
Tier III
2907.02 Rape
2907.03 Sexual Battery
2903.01 Aggravated Murder with sexual motivation
2903.02 Murder with sexual motivation
2903.04(A) Unlawful Death or termination of pregnancy as a result of committing or attempt to commit a felony with sexual motivation
2905.01 (A)(4) Kidnapping of minor to engage in sexual activity
2905.01 (B) Kidnapping of minor, not by parent
2907.05 (B) (New section of GSI)
2903.11 Felonious Assault with sexual motivation
Pre-AWA predators unless re-classified after hearing under ORC 2950.031 or 2950.032
Any sexual offense that occurs after the offender is classified as a Tier II or III offender.
Automatic classification after SVP specification 2971.03
Includes an attempt, complicity or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses
Any law from another jurisdiction that is comparable to these offenses shall fall within that same tier.
[1] – This offense should be removed in future.