National Sex Offender Registry — Official State & Federal Search

Search any state's official sex offender registry for free — every state registry is also searchable at once through the national NSOPW database. Use the table below to jump straight to your state's official portal.

StateFree Online?Official PortalNotes
California YesCalifornia Megan's Law Website (meganslaw.ca.gov)Free name and address search run by CA DOJ.
Texas YesTexas DPS Sex Offender RegistryFree name, ZIP, and proximity search.
Florida YesFDLE Sexual Offender/Predator SearchFree name and neighborhood search with mapping.
New York YesNY DCJS Sex Offender RegistryFree Level 2/3 search; subdirectory lookup by name.
Pennsylvania YesPA Megan's Law Website (pameganslaw.state.pa.us)Free name and address radius search.
Illinois YesIllinois Sex Offender Information (isp.illinois.gov)Free name, city, and ZIP search.
Ohio YesOhio eSORN (Attorney General)Free statewide registry search with mapping.
Georgia YesGeorgia GBI Sex Offender RegistryFree county and name search.
North Carolina YesNC SBI Sex Offender RegistryFree name and address-based search.
Michigan YesMichigan Public Sex Offender RegistryFree name, ZIP, and proximity search.
New Jersey YesNJ State Police Sex Offender Internet RegistryFree Tier 2/3 search by name and county.
Virginia YesVirginia State Police Sex Offender RegistryFree name and proximity search with alerts.
Washington YesWashington Sex Offender Registry (icrime/county)Free statewide and county registry search.
Arizona YesArizona DPS Sex Offender InfoCenterFree Level 2/3 search by name and location.
Tennessee YesTennessee TBI Sex Offender Registry (SORVT)Free name, ZIP, and proximity search.

Every state runs a free public sex-offender registry, all searchable together through NSOPW. The table lists the official state registry for the 15 largest states.

Last Updated: September 2026 · Reviewed quarterly by the Searchadex editorial team.

What Are Sex Offender Registry Records?

A sex offender registry is a public database of people required by law to register after a qualifying sex-offense conviction. Registration requirements stem from federal law — the Adam Walsh Act and SORNA — and each state, territory, and tribe maintains its own registry that feeds the national search.

The registries exist for public safety and notification. Depending on an offender's tier, the public record can include name, aliases, photograph, physical description, offense, and the offender's residential area or address. Tier and disclosure rules differ by jurisdiction.

The U.S. Department of Justice operates NSOPW (nsopw.gov), the only national, official search that simultaneously queries every state and territory registry. Individual state registries — usually run by the state police — offer the most detailed, jurisdiction-specific results.

How Do You Search Sex Offender Registry Records for Free?

  1. Start with the national search at the official NSOPW (nsopw.gov) to query all states at once.
  2. Search by name nationally, or by address/radius to see registered offenders near a location.
  3. For the most detail, open the specific state registry (usually run by the state police).
  4. Verify identity carefully using photo, date of birth, and offense — names are not unique.
  5. Re-check periodically; registries are updated as offenders move or registration status changes.

What Information Is in a Sex Offender Registry Record?

  • Name and known aliases
  • Current photograph and physical description
  • Registered residential area or address
  • Qualifying offense and conviction date
  • Risk tier or classification level
  • Compliance and registration status

Sex Offender Registry — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the national sex offender registry free?

Yes. The National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW.gov), run by the U.S. Department of Justice, is free and public and searches every state, territory, and tribal registry at once.

How do I search the sex offender registry near me?

Use NSOPW or your state registry and search by address or ZIP code with a radius. The results map registered offenders near that location.

Are sex offender registries accurate?

Registries are official but depend on offenders reporting moves. Always verify identity with photo, date of birth, and offense, and re-check periodically.

Can I use the registry to make decisions about a person?

Registries are for personal safety and notification. Using the information to harass, or for employment/housing decisions outside the law, can carry legal consequences.

Why isn't everyone with a conviction listed?

Only convictions for qualifying offenses require registration, and lower-tier offenders may not be publicly displayed in some states. Rules vary by jurisdiction.

What is NSOPW?

NSOPW is the National Sex Offender Public Website, the only U.S. government search that simultaneously queries all state, territory, and tribal sex-offender registries.

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