Predatory Offender Registration and More

What is Predatory Offender Registration?

Since 1991 Minnesota Law has required individuals convicted of certain crimes to register their address and other pertinent data with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The law has been changed and enhanced since. This is an essential tool for law enforcement agencies across the state to aid in the investigation and monitoring of these offenders.

What is Community Notification?

Effective January 1, 1997, convicted offenders who are released from prison are assigned a risk level which is determined by the Department of Corrections prior to their release. The risk level assigned ultimately determines the scope of community notification. The levels are as follows:

Level 1 - Law enforcement may notify:
Other law enforcement agencies
Any victims of or witnesses to the offense committed by the offender.

Level 2 - In addition to Level 1 notifications, law enforcement may notify:
Schools and daycare facilities
Establishments and organizations that primarily serve individuals likely to be victimized by the offender.

Level 3 - In addition to Level 2 notifications, law enforcement may notify other members of the community whom the offender is likely to encounter.

Other offenders assigned a risk level include those:

• Released from a state prison in another state and comes to Minnesota under supervision.
• Released from federal prison and intending to reside in Minnesota.
• Released from confinement who were committed as sexually dangerous persons or psychopathic personalities; or mentally ill and dangerous.
• Upon request from local law enforcement if released from a federal prison or another state’s prison, not under supervision and moving to Minnesota.

Offenders that are convicted of an offense that triggers registration but are not sentenced to state prison are not assigned a risk level.

Offenders assigned to Risk Level 3 trigger a community notification meeting. The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office releases this information pursuant to Minnesota Statute 244.052 which authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a predatory offenders release from prison, or a secure treatment facility when that agency believes that the release of information will enhance public safety.

These offenders are not wanted by law enforcement at this time and have served the sentence imposed on them by the court. Once the sentence is finished, neither the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office nor the court has the power to tell the offender where to live. This notification is not intended to increase fear in the community; it is the belief of law enforcement that an informed public is a safer public.

Predatory offender notification laws vary from state to state, the material contained on this site is not meant to be exhaustive, it does, however, provide information about the notification law and offenders released into the community. Minnesota law now provides the opportunity for local law enforcement to provide its community with the kind of information it needs to make good decisions with regard to the safety and welfare of its citizens and their children.

Disclosure of information to the public is based on the Risk Level assigned to a specific offender. The extent of the information given and the community to whom disclosure is made must relate only to, and include, all of the following:

1. The level of the danger posed by the offender.
2. The offender's pattern of the offending behavior.
3. The need of the community members for information to enhance their individual and collective safety.

Notification is required and/or allowed per Risk Level are: To search for Level 3 sex offenders in the State of Minnesota, see the Minnesota Department of Corrections Level 3 Predatory Offender Information website.

Personal Safety Tips

A key reason the Minnesota Legislature passed the Community Notification Act was to promote public safety. When the public is provided information about Level 3 offenders we ask that you use it wisely.

Use this information as a catalyst to talk to your family about sexual violence and personal safety. Assure your children that they can talk to you with questions they have about good touches versus bad touches, what to do if a stranger approaches them, or if someone they know acts inappropriately towards them. Remind your children of basic safety rules: never talk to strangers or accept rides from people you don’t know; Teach them to use the buddy system and to listen to their instincts, if something doesn’t seem right talk to a parent, teacher, or another adult they trust.