1. What is the significance of June 1, 1996?
2. How is risk level determined?
3. Are risk levels consistent nationwide?
4. What is a Predator?
5. What agency registers sex offenders?
6. Do I have to register if I am visiting/vacationing in Arizona?
7. What are the requirements of a sex offender if he changes his address?
8. Can non-sexual offenses require sex offender registration/notification?
9. Do registration and community notification laws apply to juveniles?
10. Are all sex offenders required to obtain a special Arizona drivers license or identification credential?
11. How can I obtain more detailed information concerning a particular conviction?
12. Are sex offenders prohibited from living near schools/daycare centers?

2. How is risk level determined?
Prior to an offender's release or sentence to probation, the agency that had custody of the individual completes a risk assessment screening profile. This instrument evaluates nineteen criteria that are considered to be significant factors contributing to sex offender recidivism. Each criterion is given a score, which is then totaled to arrive at the recommended risk level. All criminal justice agencies must use the standardized Arizona Risk Assessment, however, occasionally law enforcement discovers information which can affect an offender's risk level. As such, law enforcement is given the discretion to either accept the recommended risk level or complete another risk assessment.

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3. Are risk levels consistent nationwide?
No, each state has slightly different community notification laws, implementation dates, and risk assessment instruments.

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4. What is a Predator?
In Arizona, all sex offenders classified as "predator" are housed at the State Hospital. Once an offender completes his sentence and is scheduled for release, the offender may be reviewed for violent sexual predator criteria. If it is determined that the offender is a violent sexual predator, Arizona law provides for a civil commitment to the Arizona State Hospital. The sex offender may request an annual review to determine if he is eligible for release into society, at which time the label "predator" is removed.

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5. What agency registers sex offenders?
The county sheriff is responsible for registering sex offenders living within their county.

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6. Do I have to register if I am visiting/vacationing in Arizona?
Yes, if you are planning on staying within Arizona for more than 10 days. Failure to comply is a Class 4 Felony!

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7. What are the requirements of a sex offender if he changes his address?
The offender has 72 hours, exlcuding weekends and legal holidays, to complete a change of address. This must be completed in person, on a sex offender registration form. Failure to comply is a Class 4 Felony.

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8. Can non-sexual offenses require sex offender registration/notification?
Yes, judges have the authority to court order sex offender registration if there was a finding of sexual motivation.

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9. Do registration and community notification laws apply to juveniles?
Although registration is mandatory for adults, it is not for juveniles. If a juvenile is adjudicated delinquent of an act that would require an adult to register, the court can require the juvenile to register until the age of twenty-five. Community notification laws may apply if ordered by the court.

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10. Are all sex offenders required to obtain a special Arizona drivers license or identification credential?
Yes, all sex offenders are required to obtain a credential from the MVD. The credential which is obtained annually, looks identical to any other license except when a law enforcement official checks the status of the credential it indicates that the individual is subject to sex offender registration. Failure to obtain this credential is a Class 1 Misdemeanor with a mandatory $250 assessment.

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11. How can I obtain more detailed information concerning a particular conviction?
It is incumbent upon the user to contact the court in the "convicting jurisdiction" to gain access to these public documents.

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12. Are sex offenders prohibited from living near schools/daycare centers?
There is no law restricting where an offender may live, however, if an offender is on probation/parole, the respective probation department may impose restrictions on living arrangements.

• Arizona has approximately 11,000 registered sex offenders.

• Sex offenders come from all walks of life and from all socio-economic groups. They can be male or female, rich or poor, employed or unemployed, religious or non-religious, educated or uneducated, and from any race.

• Although some sex offenders are strangers and stalkers, many know the victim as a family member, friend, or neighbor. They win a child’s trust and then take advantage of that trust.

• Potential victims are likely to be children that are poor, neglected, loners, or runaways.

• Many pedophiles seek out mothers of single parent families for the purpose of victimizing children.

• Sex offenders often like playgrounds and other places where children congregate.

• Most sex offenders groom their victims prior to any crime.

• Offenders may position themselves to come into contact with children by:

          • Creating playground environments where victims have access to toys, games, and other              things that will later be traded for sex.

          • Enticing with attention, affection, gifts, promises, and providing alcohol and pornography              to lower inhibitions.

          • Participating in activities with teens, often excluding other adults, or trying to get teens              into situations where no other adults are present.

          • Preying on either a parent/teen desire to excel in a sport. They provide extra assistance              and offer special attention.

          • Being the "nice guy" in the neighborhood who is willing to entertain children and take              them on outings.

          • Operating businesses that hire teens and looking for excuses requiring them to stay after              hours, or visit the offenders home.

          • Seeking employment or volunteering where they will be in contact with children and teens.