The Sex Offender Registry and You: What You Should Know Before You Screen

The United States is moving closer towards a renter-friendly nation with renter-friendly laws. As renters cheer every time tenant screening laws shift in their favor, credit reporting agencies and rental property investors across the nation have to adjust to the turning, pro-renter tide. Despite that, screening is a necessity and there is always one argument you can pose. To be in the rental housing industry means you need to have the information to enable smart leasing decisions and keep yourself safe from litigation.  You need to know about the sex offender registry.

The United States is moving closer towards a renter-friendly nation with renter-friendly laws. As renters cheer every time tenant screening laws shift in their favor, credit reporting agencies and rental property investors across the nation have to adjust to the turning, pro-renter tide. Despite that, screening is a necessity and there is always one argument you can pose. To be in the rental housing industry means you need to have the information to enable smart leasing decisions and keep yourself safe from litigation.  You need to know about the sex offender registry.

A Different Beast

When it comes to the sex offender registry, these records are an entirely different beast than other criminal record databases. There are different levels to these records, known as levels one, two, and three.

Across states, levels one, two and three depend on age, risk of repeat offense, and if they are a danger to the public. The most notable factor is, however that only Level Three Sex Offenders are made known to the public, while the lower levels may be found at county levels.

A Different Beast

When it comes to the sex offender registry, these records are an entirely different beast than other criminal record databases. There are different levels to these records, known as levels one, two, and three.

Across states, levels one, two and three depend on age, risk of repeat offense, and if they are a danger to the public. The most notable factor is, however that only Level Three Sex Offenders are made known to the public, while the lower levels may be found at county levels.

It gets muddier in some states as records can have different expungement laws. Missouri allows “Romeo and Juliet” laws” exceptions. If you’ve had ‘consensual’ physical relations with someone older than fourteen, you can have your sex offender registration expunged after two years. Crossing state lines changes things, and sometimes city lines as well. In Seattle, Fair Chance Housing Ordinance SMC 14.09 states that landlords cannot outright “categorically exclude” anyone with a record, including sex offenders.

Depending on the state, rental applicants who are on the sex offender registry also have to abide by different rules.

Rules to Live By as a Sex Offender in

California Illinois
Fees of up to $10,000, no noted registry fines. Fines of $25,000. $100 costs to register as an offender and yearly registry fees of $100
Must disclose their social media identifiers No Social Media while under parole or probation
Not allowed within 2000 of a School Not allowed within 500 Feet of a School
Must report within 5 days of a residential move Must report within 3 days of a residential move

It gets muddier in some states as records can have different expungement laws. Missouri allows “Romeo and Juliet” laws” exceptions. If you’ve had ‘consensual’ physical relations with someone older than fourteen, you can have your sex offender registration expunged after two years. Crossing state lines changes things, and sometimes city lines as well. In Seattle, Fair Chance Housing Ordinance SMC 14.09 states that landlords cannot outright “categorically exclude” anyone with a record, including sex offenders.

Depending on the state, rental applicants who are on the sex offender registry also have to abide by different rules.

Rules to Live By as a Sex Offender in

California Illinois
Fees of up to $10,000, no noted registry fines. Fines of $25,000. $100 costs to register as an offender and yearly registry fees of $100
Must disclose their social media identifiers No Social Media while under parole or probation
Not allowed within 2000 of a School Not allowed within 500 Feet of a School
Must report within 5 days of a residential move Must report within 3 days of a residential move

While the applicants are responsible for abiding, and keeping up with, state-specific sex offender registry laws, they can also be used as guidelines for leasing standards for each of your properties.

While the applicants are responsible for abiding, and keeping up with, state-specific sex offender registry laws, they can also be used as guidelines for leasing standards for each of your properties.

How Important

CRAs, property managers, landlords, and residents need to be able to make the most informed decisions as they can. They need to know who they are renting to, whether it’s someone with a conviction that is violent or nonviolent. You can’t know who your applicants are from first glance and you want to keep everyone safe, so relying on a thorough criminal record database is a must. With the data backing you, you’re doing your part.

How Important

CRAs, property managers, landlords, and residents need to be able to make the most informed decisions as they can. They need to know who they are renting to, whether it’s someone with a conviction that is violent or nonviolent. You can’t know who your applicants are from first glance and you want to keep everyone safe, so relying on a thorough criminal record database is a must. With the data backing you, you’re doing your part.

CIC puts great effort to handle those concerns. With maximum possible accuracy, our criminal public records are updated daily from courts big and small from across the United States, Washington D.C, Native Tribes and the sex offender registry.

CIC puts great effort to handle those concerns. With maximum possible accuracy, our criminal public records are updated daily from courts big and small from across the United States, Washington D.C, Native Tribes and the sex offender registry.

This page is made available by Contemporary Information Corp. (CIC) for informational purposes only. It is not meant to convey CIC’s legal position on behalf of any client, nor is it intended to convey specific legal advice. Any opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of CIC, its partners, or its clients. Accordingly, do not act upon this information without seeking counsel from a licensed attorney. The information on this page is published “AS IS” and is not guaranteed to be complete, accurate, and or up-to-date. CIC makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation or content of the site. CIC expressly disclaims all other guarantees, warranties, conditions and representations of any kind, either express or implied, whether arising under any statute, law, commercial use or otherwise, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title and non-infringement. In no event shall CIC or any of its partners, employees, or affiliates be liable, directly or indirectly, under any theory of law (contract, tort, negligence or otherwise), to you or anyone else, for any claims, losses or damages, direct, indirect special, incidental, punitive or consequential, resulting from or occasioned by the creation, use of or reliance on this site (including information and other content) or any third party websites or the information, resources or material accessed through any such websites. Photographs are for dramatization purposes only and may include models. Likenesses do not necessarily imply current client, partnership or employee status.

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