FDLE - Sexual Offender and Predator System

Sexual Offenders and Predators Search

Charting a course for public safety

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Florida Department of Law Enforcement

Through the Public Safety Information Act of 1997, Florida became the first state to list sexual predators and offenders on the Internet and to make the same information available through a 24-hour/day hotline. This Act allowed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to give the public access to information important to their ability to protect themselves and their families against sexual offenders. Since that time, Florida has continued to lead the nation in legislating strong registration and related sexual offender laws, and effectively implementing these laws through the dedicated efforts of criminal justice partners across the state.

At the time the Public Safety Information Act passed, Florida had 471 sexual predators and approximately 8,000 sexual offenders listed in the database. Today, that number has grown to more than 16,000 registered predators and 70,000 registered offenders. Despite the increased volume of registrants, Florida has responded quickly and favorably to the changing demands of state and federal laws as well as the logistical requirements that come with this much larger group of registrants.

From the beginning, Florida has benefited from great support and cooperation from all of our State's criminal justice partners at the local, state, and national levels in implementing a system of sexual predator/offender registration and verification which continues to ensure that important information and updates are available to citizens and criminal justice partners as soon as possible. Indeed, it is the continuing spirit of cooperation among all criminal justice partners and the citizens of Florida that ensures that Florida's registry is as up-to-date and accurate as possible, despite the great challenges to the success of this demanding process. Our state enjoys national recognition as the leader and a model in the strength of our law and in the successful partnership that makes those laws work.

Most importantly, because of these integrated efforts, Florida's public is advised of potential predators/offenders in a timely fashion, and predators and offenders are more closely monitored. Ultimately, this information makes Florida's citizens especially our children much safer.

Lighthouse Symbol

CHARTING A COURSE FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY

Picture of Sexual Offender Predator Unit

FDLE chose the lighthouse to symbolize the joint efforts of the Sexual Offender & Predator Unit and local law enforcement to chart a course for public safety, by providing the public with information about Florida sexual offenders and predators in their communities and endeavoring to bring violators to justice.

FDLE Services for Law Enforcement

In addition to public Internet access to the sexual offender/predator database, FDLE offers and maintains a connection to the database for all criminal justice agencies that have CJNET capabilities.

Viewing and limited write access directly to the state Sexual Offender/Predator System (through CJNet) to law enforcement agencies submitting address verification and field intelligence information.

Enhanced searching capabilities via the CJNet offender/predator searches.

Training on sexual offender and predator laws and relevant Florida procedures and systems.

Upon request, FDLE will provide all collected offense and arrest information on sexual offenders and predators to local law enforcement agencies for investigations and analysis of patterns or actions used in abduction and/or sexual offenses previously committed by the sexual offenders or predators.

FDLE provides all sheriffs' offices and FDLE regional operations centers with sexual offender/predator registration forms.

FDLE makes available to all criminal justice agencies a copy of each sexual offender’s and predator’s public flyer that may be used for community notification. These flyers include information such as image, address, qualifying offense, scars, marks, tattoos, and vehicles owned, and they can be modified to add a particular agency’s header.

FDLE actively participates in locating and arresting sexual offenders and predators who are not residing at their registered address. When FDLE is notified that a registrant is not at the location, FDLE will add to the remarks field in the sexual offender/predator status record that the reported address does not appear to be correct and, when appropriate, will move to obtain a warrant for the registrant’s arrest. FDLE will continue to work cooperatively with local law enforcement to fully accomplish this strategy.

FDLE provides analysis and intelligence to assist local agencies in solving crimes that are sexual offenses, particularly where there is a possibility that a sexual predator or sexual offender is involved.

FDLE makes Florida sexual offender and predator information available to law enforcement and other states by providing access to registrants’ hot file status records and by submitting information to the National Sex Offender Registry.

FDLE will work with local law enforcement to conduct sexual offender/predator operations to complete physical address verifications, assist with the issuance of arrest warrants, and ensure compliance with Florida’s registration laws.

FDLE makes resources available to respond to the needs of the criminal justice community and the public in regard to sexual predators/offenders. This includes, as necessary, crime laboratory services, investigative services, and informational services.

FDLE offers Florida law enforcement agencies a geo-mapping system that tracks sexual offenders and predators within their jurisdictions. Additionally, geo-mapping applications can be expanded to include automated community mail notifications and other helpful tools. Several agencies have already established effective geo-mapping practices within their agencies for the purposes of community notification and analysis. Analysis may include weekly updated locator graphs of addresses and new predators, along with crime trend information for investigative purposes.

FDLE offers the FL LEMoble App, which allows law enforcement users to complete address verifications and make limited updates to registrant data while in the field.

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FDLE Services for The Public

FDLE makes certain information on Florida sexual offender and sexual predators readily available to the public by:

Posting the sexual offender/predator registration information and their photographs on the Internet,

Maintaining a toll-free telephone line for the public to use to inquire whether an individual is a sexual offender or predator,

Making informational flyers and brochures on sexual offenders and sexual predators available to the public,

Providing online searches that allow citizens to look up sexual offenders/predators by name, search a radius around a particular address, search an email address or Internet identifier to find out if it is registered by a sexual offender or predator, and to search for sexual offenders/predators at college and university campuses,

Providing an automatic e-mail notification system that allows citizens to sign-up to receive e-mail notifications regarding sexual offenders/predators in their area, and

Maintaining the FDLE Mobile Application, which includes a light version of the Sexual Offender/Predator Public Registry website.

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Public Notification

Local law enforcement websites, in conjunction with the FDLE sexual offender/predator website, have proven to be an effective tool for public notification, not only for the state of Florida, but on a national level as well.

Community crime prevention meetings are opportunities to distribute information about local sexual offenders and predators and explain public information laws and safe practices.

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Additional Information About FDLE's Enforcement and Investigative Support Bureau

Per Florida Statute, FDLE shall notify the public of all designated sexual predators through the Internet and may notify through the Internet public information regarding sexual offenders. FDLE may provide any information which is not confidential and exempt from public disclosure under s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. {Sections 775.21(7)(c); 943.043, Florida Statutes}

FDLE is responsible for the on-line maintenance of current information regarding each registered sexual predator. {Section 775.21(6)(k)1.}

FDLE must maintain hotline access for state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies to obtain instantaneous locator file and offender characteristics information on all released registered sexual predators for purposes of monitoring, tracking, and prosecution. {Section 775.21(6)(k)1.}

FDLE and the Department of Corrections shall implement a system for verifying the addresses of sexual offenders/predators. {Sections 775.21(8); 943.0435(6)}

County and local law enforcement agencies, in conjunction with FDLE, shall verify the addresses of sexual offenders/predators who are not under the care, custody, control, or supervision of the Department of Corrections. {Sections 775.21(8), 943.0435(6)}

FDLE's sexual offender and predator registration list is a public record. When FDLE provides information regarding a registered sexual predator to the public, department personnel must advise the person making the inquiry that

positive identification of a person believed to be a sexual predator cannot be established unless a fingerprint comparison is made, and
it is illegal to use public information regarding a registered sexual predator to facilitate the commission of a crime. {Section 775.21(6)(k)2.}

FDLE shall remove an offender from classification as a sexual offender for purposes of registration if the offender provides to the department a certified copy of the court's written findings or order, and meets other statutory requirements of s. 943.0435(11), that indicates that the offender is no longer required to comply with the requirements for registration as a sexual offender. {Section 943.0435(11)}

FDLE is authorized to disseminate this public information by any means deemed appropriate, including operating a toll-free telephone number for this purpose. {Sections 775.21(6)(k)2.; 943.043; 944.606(2), (3)(d), (4); 985.481(4)}

FDLE shall notify the statewide law enforcement agency, or a comparable agency, in any intended state or jurisdiction of residence of a sexual offender/predator. {Sections 775.21(6)(i); 943.0435(7)}

Statewide notification to the public is authorized, as deemed appropriate by local law enforcement personnel and FDLE. {Sections 775.21(6)(k)2., (7)(b); 943.043}

FDLE shall provide, through a toll-free telephone number, public access to registration information regarding sexual predators and sexual offenders and may provide other information reported to the department which is not exempt from public disclosure. {Section 943.043(2)}

FDLE shall provide to any person, upon request and at a reasonable cost determined by the department, a copy of the photograph of any sexual offender or sexual predator which the department maintains in its files and a printed summary of the information that is available to the public. {Section 943.043(3)}

Upon receipt of registration information that a sexual offender/predator is enrolled , employed, volunteering or carrying on a vocation at an institution of higher education as required by the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act and corresponding Florida Statutes, including required notices of changes to such information, FDLE promptly provides such information through an automated teletype message to the local law enforcement agencies in the jurisdictions of the institutions listed in the registration information.

Page Last Updated:10/1/2024

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