National Registered Sex Offender Laws

North Carolina Sex Offenders

The state of North Carolina has a strict law against sex offenders. The state protects its residents by ensuring that persons convicted of a sexual offense have little or no chance at re-offending.

Sex offenders in the state upon their release from jail must register with the state’s department of justice.

Duration of registration depends on the possibility of an offender to re-offend. Sex offenders register for either 30 years or a lifetime. An offender can reduce the duration of registration by filing a petition in court. Offenders must register for 10 years to file a petition.

Sex offenders with many convictions for a sex offense will have to register for a lifetime. The law classifies such offenders as sexually violent predators.

Sexually violent predators register for a lifetime and must verify their information every 90 days.

Sex offenders in North Carolina are not allowed to live within 1000 feet of a childcare facility (schools or daycare). Sex offenders can visit the schools of their kids upon invitation. They must inform the principal before honoring such invitation.

Sex offenders in North Carolina are also not allowed to take up jobs that involve minors like driving a school bus. They are not allowed to use commercial social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

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North Carolina Sex Offender Registry

North Carolina’s sex offender registry keeps the information on sex offenders living in the state. The state’s sex offender’s law protects its residents from sex offenders by providing information on sex offenders on their website.

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North Carolina Sex Offender Infographic

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North Carolina Sex Offender Facts

Facts

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Top Offenses
  • INDECENT LIBERTY MINOR
  • REGISTERED AS A RESULT OF OUT-OF-STATE CONVICTION
  • SEX EXPLOIT MINOR 2ND DEGREE
  • SEXUAL BATTERY
  • SEX EXPLOIT MINOR 3RD DEGREE
Counties in North Carolina with the highest number of offenders:
  • Wake County
  • Mecklenburg County
  • Guilford County
  • Forsyth County
  • Cumberland County
Zip Codes in North Carolina with the highest number of offenders:

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Nearby States:
North Carolina Sex Crimes Requiring Offender Registration
  • First-degree rape - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-27.2 (West 2008).
  • Second-degree rape - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-27.3 (West 2008).
  • First-degree sexual offense - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-27.4 (West 2008).
  • Second-degree sexual offense - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-27.5 (West 2008).
  • Sexual battery - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-27.5A (West 2008).
  • Intercourse and sexual offense with certain victims - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-27.7 (West 2008).
  • Incest between near relatives - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-178 (West 2008).
  • Employing or permitting minor to assist in offenses against public morality and decency - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-190.6 (West 2008).
  • Felonious indecent exposure - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-190.9 (West 2008).
  • First degree sexual exploitation of a minor - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-190.16 (West 2008).
  • Second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-190.17 (West 2008).
  • Third degree sexual exploitation of a minor - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-190.17A (West 2008).
  • Promoting prostitution of a minor - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-190.18 (West 2008).
  • Participating in the prostitution of a minor - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-190.19 (West 2008).
  • Taking indecent liberties with children - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-202.1 (West 2008).
  • Solicitation of child by computer to commit an unlawful sex act - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-202.3 (West 2008).

The following offenses if the offense is committed against a minor and the offender is not a parent of the victim:

  • Kidnapping - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-39 (West 2008).
  • The abduction of children - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-41 (West 2008).
  • Felonious restraint - N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-43.3 (West 2008).
  • Solicitation to commit any of these offenses.
  • Aiding and abetting any of these offenses.

The law applies to any persons who have a "reportable conviction," including:

  • A final conviction for an offense against a minor, a sexually violent offense, or an attempt to commit any of those offenses unless the conviction is for aiding and abetting.
  • A final conviction for aiding and abetting is a reportable conviction only if the court sentencing the individual finds that the registration of that individual under this Article furthers the purposes of this Article.
  • A final conviction in another state of an offense, which if committed in this State, is substantially similar to an offense against a minor or a sexually violent offense as defined by this section.
  • A final conviction in federal jurisdiction (including a court-martial) of an offense, which is substantially similar to an offense against a minor or a sexually violent offense as defined by this section.
  • A final conviction for 1) N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-202(d), (e), (f), (g), or (h) (secretly peeping into room occupied by another person); 2) a second or subsequent violation of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-202(a), (a1), or

(c), if the sentencing court issues an order requiring the individual to register.

Information maintained in North Carolina Sex Offender Registry

N.C.G.S.A. § 14-208.7 (West 2008)

(b) The Division shall provide each sheriff with forms for registering persons as required by this Article. The registration form shall require:

(1) The person's full name, each alias, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, eye color, hair color, driver’s license number, and home address;

(2) The type of offense for which the person was convicted, the date of conviction, and the sentence imposed;

(3) A current photograph;

(4) The person's fingerprints;

(5) A statement indicating whether the person is a student or expects to enroll as a student within a year of registering. If the person is a student or expects to enroll as a student within a year of registration, then the registration form shall also require the name and address of the educational institution at which the person is a student or expects to enroll as a student; and

(6) A statement indicating whether the person is employed or expects to be employed at an institution of higher education within a year of registering. If the person is employed or expects to be employed at an institution of higher education within a year of registration, then the registration form shall also require the name and address of the educational institution at which the person is or expects to be employed.

Community Notification and Websites

N.C.G.S.A. § 14-208.10 (West 2008)

(a):

  • Information regarding a person required to register under this Article is public record and shall be available for public inspection.
  • The sheriff shall release any other relevant information that is necessary to protect the public concerning a specific person but shall not release the identity of the victim of the offense that required registration under this Article.
  • (b) Any person may obtain a copy of an individual's registration form, a part of the county registry, or the entire county registry, by submitting a written request for the information to the sheriff.
  • N.C.G.S.A. § 14-208.15 (West 2008)

(b):

  • The Division shall provide free public access to automated data from the statewide registry, including photographs provided by the registering sheriffs, via the Internet.
  • The public will be able to access the statewide registry to view an individual registration record, a part of the statewide registry, or the entire statewide registry.
  • The Division may also provide copies of registry information to the public upon written request and may charge a reasonable fee for duplicating costs and mailings costs.

Limitations on Residency or Employment

None

Duration of Registration

N.C.G.S.A. §14-208.7 (West 2008)

(a) 10 years for persons not subject to lifetime registration.

N.C. GEN. STAT. §14-208.23 (West 2008)

Life for recidivists, persons convicted of an aggravated offense and those who are classified as a sexually violent predator.

Timeframe for Registration

Within 10 days of release, arrival in a county, change of residency; immediately upon conviction if not incarcerated

Applies to Offenders Convicted in another State?

Yes, for substantially equivalent offenses

Verification of Address

No

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Class 3 misdemeanor for a first conviction of a violation; Class I felony for subsequent convictions

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