Sex Offender Notifications

The majority of registered sex offenders in Polk County ARE NOT included in our Sex Offender Community Notification web page. Only "predatory" sex offenders are listed on the web page. These offenders are also listed on the OSP Sex Offender website.

According to Oregon law, any person who has been convicted of any of the following crimes may be designated as "predatory:"

• Rape in any degree
• Sodomy in any degree
• Unlawful Sexual Penetration in any degree
• Sexual Abuse in any degree
• Any attempt to commit one of these crimes

A "predatory" offender is someone who exhibits characteristics showing a tendency to victimize or injure others. In determining whether a person is a "predatory" sex offender, the supervising parole and probation agency shall use the static-99 risk assessment instrument approved by the Oregon Department of Corrections. Indicators on the risk assessment that would designate someone as being "predatory" include:

• Age
• Relationship history
• Non-sexual violence
• Prior sex offenses
• Use of weapons or threats
• Criminal history
• History of non-contact sex offenses
• Unrelated and stranger victims
• Male victims (for male offenders)

Once a sex offender has been designated as "predatory," they are placed on the Polk County Community Corrections webpage. In addition, community notification occurs and may include newspaper notification and going door to door to schools, agencies and homes in the area of where the "predatory" sex offender is residing. Since 1997, on average, there have been five (5) sex offender notifications completed each year in Polk County.

Again, not all sex offenders appear on this web site. Examples include those sex offenders who have not yet been convicted or sentenced, those who are being supervised in other counties, those who have not been deemed "predatory," and those offenders who are no longer under supervision.

A "predatory" sex offender designation is a life-long designation. If someone is placed on the Polk County Predatory Sex Offender webpage, they will remain there the entire time they are supervised by Polk County Community Corrections. When someone has completed their period of probation or parole supervision, responsibility for any further community notification transfers to the Oregon State Police.