Sex Offenders
A Warning to All Clinton County State of Ohio Citizens:
Citizens who abuse information to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex offenders could potentially end law enforcement’s ability to do community notification. Abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex offenders is illegal and violators’ can be prosecuted.
The Ohio Legislature enacted Ohio Revised Code chapter 2950, the Sex Offender Registration law, in 1997. This law requires persons convicted of specified crimes and designated as a Sexual Predator, Habitual Sex Offender or Sexually Oriented Offender, to register with the Sheriff of the county in which they will live. This registration procedure takes place upon release from a term of imprisonment or, if not imprisoned, then upon moving into a county after conviction. The three classifications are defined as follows:
Sexual Predator is defined as a person who has been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, committing a sexually oriented offense and who is likely in the future to commit additional sexually oriented offenses. Offenders can be classified as sexual predators in one of the following ways: 1. The offender is convicted of a sexually violent offense with a sexually violent predator specification, or 2. The sentencing court, after holding a sexual predator hearing pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 2950.09, determines that the offender is a sexual predator. Offenders designated as sexual predators are subject to registration/verification requirements for life unless a judge modifies or terminates the sexual predator designation. Sexual predators are subject to the neighbor / community notification provisions and are subject to registration/verification every 90 days.
Habitual Sex Offender is defined as a person who has been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, committing a sexually oriented offense, and who previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more sexually oriented offenses. (2950.01) Offenders designated as habitual sex offenders are subject to registration / verification requirements annually for a period of 20 years after release. A sentencing judge may determine that a habitual sex offender is subject to neighbor / community notification.
Sexually Oriented Offender is a person who has been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, committing a sexually oriented offense, but who has not been designated as a sexual predator or habitual sex offender. Sexually oriented offenders are subject to the registration / verification requirements annually for a period of 10 years after release. These offenders are not subject to neighbor / community notification.
Neighbor Notification is defined as all occupants of residences within one thousand feet of the offender’s place of residence that are located within the county served by the Sheriff (2950.11 Effective 6-13-2002.) (Prior law only required notification to those neighbors adjacent to the property where the offender was living)
Public Records Request -Certain information on registered sex offenders is available under Ohio’s Public Records law. Information may be obtained for registered offenders in Clinton County by coming to the Sheriff’s Office between the hours of 9AM to 5PM, Monday through Friday. A link to our registered sex offenders is provided below and constitutes a public records request. NOTE: We display photos of these registered sex offenders. Only those persons who are required to register and have fulfilled their requirement by law are listed. The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office assumes no liability for damages, directly or indirectly, as a result of errors, omissions or discrepancies.