# Sex offenders - how to get info? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-how-to-get-info/330334 "2005-11-10T03:14:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-how-to-get-info/330334/1 "2005-11-10T03:14:02Z")
I just found out that the neighbor of a friend of mine is a registered sex offender. How do I go about getting more details on his offense? ---
**Author:** ![jsmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@jsmith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsmith)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-how-to-get-info/330334/2 "2005-11-10T03:23:09Z")
> [@Oslo Ostragoth](#): > > I just found out that the neighbor of a friend of mine is a registered sex offender. How do I go about getting more details on his offense? Depends what state you are in, if you are in the United States. Try hear: [http://www.prevent-abuse-now.com/register.htm](http://www.prevent-abuse-now.com/register.htm) ---
**Author:** ![jsmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@jsmith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsmith)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-how-to-get-info/330334/3 "2005-11-10T03:39:42Z")
D’oh, try here, not hear. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-how-to-get-info/330334/4 "2005-11-10T04:48:16Z")
Thanks, **jsmith**. I picked up date of disposition (1989) and the fact that the victim was a 13-year-old girl. I may make a phone call to the DA’s office tomorrow to see what else is available. BTW, this is in TX. My friend, who has a 11-year-old daughter, is slightly concerned. (She already knew about it.) I am **freaked**. :eek: :eek: :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Thalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@Thalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thalion)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-how-to-get-info/330334/5 "2005-11-10T08:39:57Z")
Usually the best source of information is the Sheriff’s Office. In most states, they are the ones tasked with tracking sex offenders. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-how-to-get-info/330334/6 "2005-11-10T08:47:36Z")
> [@Oslo Ostragoth](#): > > I am **freaked**. :eek: :eek: :eek: It may be a little early to be freaked and being freaked may cause you to do/say or imagine things that you may later regret. In some cases, a just-over-age male who gets in trouble for having sexual relations with a just-under-age female can end up being classed as a sex offender; obviously you would have a great deal less cause for concern over such an individual than you might if he had, say, a history of walking off with, and exposing himself to six-year-old kids. ---
**Author:** ![eviladam\_part\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@eviladam\_part\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eviladam_part_2)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-how-to-get-info/330334/7 "2005-11-10T14:22:19Z")
i did a zabasearch and a google search on my local offender’s name/address/etc. didn’t find any info on his specific crime (criminal sexual abuse), but i found a website with a list of complaints from people he scammed online. i don’t have kids, but if i did i’d probably dig a little deeper. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-how-to-get-info/330334/8 "2005-11-10T15:58:20Z")
**Mangetout** : This is a case of a guy around 40 at the time and a girl of 13. I think I am justified in being freaked. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-how-to-get-info/330334/9 "2005-11-10T16:00:37Z")
> [@Oslo Ostragoth](#): > > **Mangetout** : This is a case of a guy around 40 at the time and a girl of 13. I think I am justified in being freaked. OK, I thought when you said you wanted to know about the details of his offence, this meant you didn’t already know the details. My mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-how-to-get-info/330334/10 "2005-11-15T06:11:37Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > OK, I thought when you said you wanted to know about the details of his offence, this meant you didn’t already know the details. My mistake. That’s just it. I **don’t** know the details, just that it involved a 13-year-old girl. Was it an accidental exposure: guy has too much beer, takes a leak on the nearest tree and is charged with public exposure? Or something much more sinister? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2005, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-how-to-get-info/330334/11 "2005-11-15T12:48:17Z")
> [@Oslo Ostragoth](#): > > That’s just it. I **don’t** know the details, just that it involved a 13-year-old girl. Was it an accidental exposure: guy has too much beer, takes a leak on the nearest tree and is charged with public exposure? Or something much more sinister? Once you find out where the incident happened, that police station or state website may have the details.