The OffenderWatch Portal is utilized by all Police agencies in Chemung County to track and monitor Sex Offenders. It allows you to be able to search for offenders within a 1 mile radius of any address of interest to you, search for a specific offender by name, and register as many addresses as you would like to be monitored so you will be notified by email any time a new offender address is registered within 1 mile of the address entered.
New York State maintains the Subdirectory of Level 3 Sex Offenders online. To access the Subdirectory, you will need to provide your name and address
Search the Subdirectory by zip code or County
New York State’s Sex Offender Registration Act became effective on January 21, 1996. This law is modeled after New Jersey’s “Megan’s Law” which was named for 7-year-old Megan Kanka, who was raped and murdered by a twice-convicted sex offender who lived across the street from her home. The purpose of the Act is to “provide law enforcement with additional information critical to preventing sexual victimization… [and to] allow them to alert the public when necessary for the continued protection of the community.” Legislative Findings and Intent of L.1995, c.192, L.1995, c.192, 1, eff. January 21, 1996.
The law requires the registration of certain categories of convicted sexual offenders with the State’s Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), Sex Offender Registry Unit (SOR), in Albany. The SOR in turn notifies the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the location where the offender lives. Depending upon the classification of the offender, the law enforcement agency may further disseminate specified information to the public regarding the sex offender. The law divides sex offenders into three categories as follows:
- →Risk Level 1: the risk of repeat offense is low and the law enforcement agencies are not permitted to disseminate any information to the public.
- →Risk Level 2: the risk of repeat offense is moderate and law enforcement agencies may disseminate specified information “to any entity with a vulnerable population related to the nature of the offense committed by such offender.” The information that may be disseminated includes the zip code of the offender’s residence; a photograph of the offender; background information including the offender’s crime of conviction; method of operation; type of victim targeted; and the description of any special conditions imposed on the offender.
- →Risk Level 3: the risk of repeat offense is high and there exists a threat to the public safety. In such cases, law enforcement may disseminate the same information as noted above for Risk Level 2, and in addition, may disclose the offender’s exact address “to any entity with a vulnerable population related to the nature of the offense committed by such offender.”
The Elmira Police Department disseminates information on registered sex offenders to the extent permitted by law. The law specifies that any entity receiving information on a sex offender may disclose or further disseminate such information at its discretion.
Under the law, the determination of which individuals or organizations are an “entity with a vulnerable population” is determined on a case-by-case basis depending upon the background of the sex offender and the circumstances of the crime. For example, in the case of an offender who has victimized children, schools, day care centers, and other locations where children congregate would be considered “entities with a vulnerable population.”
There are two ways that the public can obtain information about registered sex offenders:
- →New York State maintains the Subdirectory of Level 3 Sex Offenders online. To access the Subdirectory, you will need to provide your name and address
Search the Subdirectory by zip code or County - →The Sex Offender Registry Unit in Albany maintains a public access telephone number that anyone can call to find out if a particular individual is a registered sex offender. Individuals may call 1-800-262-3257 and request up to five (5) name searches of the Registry provided the requester has the name of the offender and at least one of the following pieces of information regarding the offender: (1) exact address; (2) date of birth; (3) social security number; or (4) drivers license number. The DCJS telephone number is in operation Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, (except holidays).
Questions regarding the sex offender community notification process may be directed to Captain Joseph Kane of the Elmira Police Department’s Detective Bureau at (607) 737-5611.
Send email to Captain Kane