Sex Offenders

Sexual Offender Community Notification

Under the Rhode Island Sexual Offender Registration and Community Notification Act (the "Act"), some criminal convictions may require sexual offender registration or community notification, or both. Under the Act, local police must provide community notification for persons who have been convicted in Rhode Island or another jurisdiction of an eligible sex offense committed on or after July 24, 1996. A conviction is defined very broadly under the Act and community notification may impact eligible persons who are residing, working, volunteering or attending school full-time in the state.

The scope or the degree of community notification that police make for a particular offender is determined by the risk for recidivism assigned to that offender. Risk levels are assigned by the RI Sex Offender Board of Review (SOBOR) after the board considers objective risk-assessment tool(s) as well as external factors collected from additional materials and documentation. Once the SOBR assigns the risk level, local police then distribute community notification  information consistent with Sexual Offender Community Notification Guidelines issued by the Parole Board. This may include posting to the state sex offender registry website, found here.

There are three (3) levels of risk/notification under the Act: 

Level 1 - Low Risk

Notification made to other law enforcement only.  Victims and case witnesses may receive notification upon request to police.

Level 2 - Moderate Risk

Notification made to other law enforcement and agencies likely to encounter the offender, plus posting to the public website for adult offenders. Victims and case witnesses may receive notification upon request to police. 

Level 3 - High Risk

Notification made to other law enforcement and individuals and agencies likely to encounter the offender, plus posting to the public website for adult offenders. Victims and case witnesses may receive notification upon request to police.