How to Run a Sex Offender Check

Sex offender registries in the U.S. are publicly available, meaning everyone - not just law enforcement agencies - can access the records. Running a sex offender check is easy, but takes a bit of time to do it properly.

1. First: Gather information

   Before conducting a sex offender background check, it is vital to acquire some information about the subject of your search. Having a name is not enough for a thorough check. You need the subject's date of birth and full name, as well as all the states the subject has lived in. While courts require sex offenders to register their address every time they move, many offenders do not comply with that order, making it incredibly important to check the databases of every state where the subject has lived.

2. Second: Access databases

   Most states have an online, searchable database of registered sex offenders. Enter "sex offender registry" and the state you wish to search into a search engine. One of the first few results should include the state's official page for searching the sex offender database. Follow the instructions on the website to conduct your search.

3. Third: Dig deeper

   If you have accessed the online sex offender registries of each state where the subject has resided and there are no results, consider checking all 50 states. People are not always honest about their past and your subject may have lived in a state you did not check. If you do not find the subject in any sex offender database available online, it is likely the subject is not a registered sex offender. If you have reason to suspect the subject is a sex offender and are surprised to not find him in a database, dig deeper. Send a short letter to the state police agency in each state where the subject has resided. Ask for verification that the subject is not a registered sex offender. Some states have a different process for this type of request, so you may want to contact the State Police and ask what their policy is.