SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY UPDATES FROM THE STATE POLICE

On October 1, 1998 Public Act 98-111 required the Department of Public Safety to establish and maintain a Sex Offender Registry. The department began registration on October 2, 1998 and opened the Sex Offender Registry website on the Internet on January 1, 1999.   

The registry system established in Public Act 98-111 required registration of persons convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of certain statutes listed under C.G.S. section 54-250. Depending on how a particular offense is classified determines if a registrant is required to register for a period of ten years or life. An offense classified as a “Sexually violent offense” requires a lifetime registration along with any registerable offense where a registrant has one or more prior convictions of such offense. An offense classified as a “Criminal offense against a victim who is a minor” or a “Nonviolent sexual offense” requires a ten year registrations.      

            On October 2, 2008 the Department of Public Safety will remove the first two registrations from the Sex Offender Registry upon the completion of their ten-year registration period. Registrations will continue thereafter with an anticipated 29 registrants being removed in the month of October and an additional 153 registrants are estimated to be removed by October of 2009.

            The Sex Offender Registry Unit of the Department of Public Safety began assembling the list of registrants that would be removed from the registry in 2005. Part of this review required the verification and collection of conviction documents for the 5099 current registered sex offenders that live, work or attend educational institutions in the state.    

            During the first six months of 2008 the Connecticut Sex Offender Registry website had an average of just over 900 thousand hits per month recorded on the website for registered sex offenders living, working, or attending schools in the state. Information can be searched on the website by last name, town, zip code, or by viewing an entire list of registrants. The information is provided free of charge and persons making inquiries do not have to identify themselves.

Members of the public are encouraged to contact the State Police Sex Offender Registry Unit if they have information that differs from the information posted on the registry. Any questions regarding the registration of sex offenders in Connecticut or information on a registered sex offender that appears to be in violation should be directed to the Connecticut Department of Public Safety, Division of State Police, Sex Offender Registry Unit at 1111 Country Club Road, Middletown, CT 06457-9294, by phone at 860-685-8060 or by email at sex.offender.registry@po.state.ct.us. Registry records are also available at local police departments for registrants living within that department's jurisdiction.  

To access the Connecticut Sex Offender Registry Website:

www.state.ct.us/dps