FAQs

You can review all the statutes that govern the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry by accessing the Virginia Legislative Information Website at the following link: Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act
Every person required to register shall register in person within three (3) days of their release from confinement in a state, local or juvenile correctional facility or, if a sentence of confinement is not imposed, within three days of suspension of the sentence or in the case of a juvenile disposition.
The Sex Offender Registry provides a limited amount of information. If you would like more details, you may contact the sentencing court. Adult court records are public information unless sealed by order of the court.
Please provide as much information concerning this person, i.e. name, date of birth, name of court, etc. Submit the information via email to this address: sor.vsp@vsp.virginia.gov. Once we receive this information, research will be conducted and if the person meets the criteria for registration, an investigation will be initiated.
Virginia law requires that an offender, who must register in the jurisdiction where they were convicted, register in Virginia when they establish a residence, become employed or attend school in Virginia. Additionally, Virginia law requires an offender to register in Virginia if they have been convicted of a "substantially similar charge" as those requiring registration in Virginia
Any juvenile tried and convicted in the circuit court of one of the offenses requiring registration pursuant to § 9.1-902 of the Code of Virginia must register. Effective July 1, 2005, juveniles over the age of 13 at the time of the offense, who are tried as a juvenile and are adjudicated delinquent, are also included within the registry if the trial Court determined that the circumstances of the offense require offender registration and ordered the juvenile to register pursuant to § 9.1-902(C) of the Code of Virginia.
  • "Verify his registration information" means that the person required to register has notified the State Police; confirmed his current physical and mailing address and electronic mail address information and any instant message, chat, or other Internet communication name or identity information that he uses or intends to use; and provided such other information, including identifying information, that the State Police may require.
  • Any person required to register shall verify his registration information with the State Police, during such person’s required verification month and time interval, commencing with the date of initial registration, as follows: 1. Any person convicted of a Tier III offense or murder, four times each year at three-month intervals, including the person’s birth month; and 2. Any person convicted of a violation of § 18.2-472.1, in which such person was included on the Registry for a conviction of a Tier III offense or murder, every month.
  • The State Police shall make available to the person an address verification form to be used for verification of his registration information. The form shall contain in bold print a statement indicating that failure to comply with the verification required is punishable as provided in § 18.2-472.1. Copies of all forms to be used for verification and guidelines for submitting such forms, including month and time verification intervals shall be available through distribution by the State Police, from local law-enforcement agencies, and in a format capable of being downloaded and printed from a website maintained by the State Police.
  • Persons required to register with last names beginning with A through L shall verify their registration information with the State Police from the first to the fifteenth of such person’s verification-months pursuant to subsection B, and persons required to register with last names beginning with M through Z shall verify their registration information with the State Police from the sixteenth to the last day of the month during such person’s verification months pursuant to subsection B. The last name shall be the last name in the person’s name pursuant to § 9.1-903 as it appears in the Registry.
  • For the period of July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021, any person required to verify their registration information shall continue verify their registration information with the State Police on such person’s verification schedule in place prior to July 1, 2020, until such person has verify their registration information pursuant to the new verification schedule provided in subsection B, at which time such person shall continue to verify their registration information pursuant to the new verification schedule
  • Nonresident offenders entering the Commonwealth for an extended visit, for employment, to carry on a vocation, or as a student attending school who are required to register in their state of residence or who would be required to register if a resident of the Commonwealth shall, within three days of entering the Commonwealth for an extended visit, accepting employment or enrolling in school in the Commonwealth, be required to register and reregister in person with the local law-enforcement agency.
  • Employment and "carry on a vocation" include employment that is full-time or part-time for a period of time exceeding 14 days or for an aggregate period of time exceeding 30 days during any calendar year, whether financially compensated, volunteered, or for the purpose of government or educational benefit.
Please refer to the following section of the Code of Virginia: § 9.1-908. Duration of registration requirement.
Please refer to the following section of the Code of Virginia: § 9.1-909. Relief from registration or reregistration.
Please refer to the following section of the Code of Virginia: § 9.1-910. Removal of name and information from Registry.
There are a low percentage of offenders on the registry that do not have a photograph. When these offenders are located, their photographs will be uploaded to the website.
No. However, every person found not guilty by reason of insanity on or after July 1, 2007, of an offense defined in Virginia Code § 9.1-902, shall register and re-register as required by law. Every person in the custody of the Commissioner of Mental Health Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, or on conditional release on or after July 1, 2007, because of a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity of an offense defined in Virginia Code § 9.1-902, shall register and re-register as required by the Code.
Virginia law requires that an offender, who must register in the jurisdiction where they were convicted, register in Virginia when they establish a residence, become employed or attend school in Virginia. Additionally, Virginia law requires an offender to register in Virginia if they have been convicted of a "substantially similar charge" as those requiring registration in Virginia.
If the new residence is located outside of the Commonwealth, the offender shall register in person with the local law-enforcement agency where they previously registered within 10 days prior to their change of residence.
Research is conducted on offenders who have been convicted in other states before a decision is made as to the offender’s classification. The Registry reviews the elements of the out of state crime and it is compared to the list of Virginia's registerable offenses for a match. The age of the victim, the circumstances of the crime and time frame of the conviction are reviewed to determine if the offender meets Virginia's requirement to register. This information is also used to determine the classification of the offender. If the offense is not equivalent, but the offender is a registered sex offender in the jurisdiction of their conviction, they are required to register.
The Department of State Police is very concerned regarding the safety of every child in Virginia. The Sex Offender website was designed to provide the citizens of the Commonwealth with information regarding the offender residing, working, attending school or visiting for an extended period so citizens can make informed decisions regarding their child’s safety. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children maintains a website on Child Safety which may have some useful information.
Please refer to the following section of the Code of Virginia: § 18.2-370.5. Sex offenses prohibiting entry onto school property; penalty.
  • If the convicted offender is on supervision - which means restrictions have been placed on them as they relate to probation supervision and not state law - then they may not be permitted to participate in trick-or-treat activities (i.e. porch lights must be turned off; not permitted to open the door to trick-or-treaters, etc.). This restriction only applies if that offender’s conditions of probation supervision prohibit contact with children.
  • If the convicted offender is not on supervision, then they are entitled to participate in trick-or-treat and other Halloween activities. This does apply to convicted offenders featured on the Virginia Sex Offender Registry. The only exceptions relate to Code of Virginia § 18.2-370.5, which restricts an offender’s access to school property.
  • Questions regarding an individual’s probation supervision status and any restrictions placed on them as a result of that status should be directed to the local Probation and Parole office or the Virginia Department of Corrections.
  • Parents and guardians are encouraged to visit the Virginia Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry to identify the relevant addresses of convicted offenders. This enables adults and guardians to make informed decisions on what residences/businesses to approach for trick-or-treating.
  • Halloween night, the Virginia State Police Sex Offender Investigative Unit will be working with the Virginia Department of Corrections Probation and Parole to check on supervised sex offenders.
Every person required to register shall register in person within three (3) days of their release from confinement in a state, local or juvenile correctional facility or, if a sentence of confinement is not imposed, within three days of suspension of the sentence or in the case of a juvenile disposition.
Virginia law requires that an offender, who must register in the jurisdiction where they were convicted, register in Virginia when they establish a residence, become employed or attend school in Virginia. Additionally, Virginia law requires an offender to register in Virginia if they have been convicted of a "substantially similar charge" as those requiring registration in Virginia.
If the new residence is located outside of the Commonwealth, the offender shall register in person with the local law-enforcement agency where they previously registered within 10 days prior to their change of residence.
In accordance with 19VAC30-170-15, every person required to register shall submit to be photographed by a local law-enforcement agency every two years commencing with the date of initial registration. Photographs shall be in color, be taken with the registrant facing the camera, and clearly show the registrant’s face and shoulders only. No person other than the registrant may appear in the photograph submitted.
Please provide as much information concerning this person, i.e. name, date of birth, name of court, etc. Submit the information via email to this address: sor.vsp@vsp.virginia.gov. Once we receive this information, research will be conducted and if the person meets the criteria for registration, an investigation will be initiated.
  • Any person or entity may sign up for automated community notification regarding offenders. You can sign up for community notification at the following location: Register for Alerts by Location.
  • The Registry will provide electronic notifications to all authorized entities that have an e-mail address. If you or your entity does not have the availability of Internet access, the community notification will be mailed by U. S. Mail for a fee. Written requests will be processed within three days of receipt.
Please refer to the following section of the Code of Virginia: Misuse of registry information; penalty.
  • You can check the status of an inmate through the Department of Corrections Inmate Locator interface located at: Inmate Locator
  • You can also call the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE), toll-free at 1-800-467-4943. VINE is a 24-hour; anonymous, computer-based telephone service that provides inmate information.
  • No. The Department of Corrections provides victim notification services. Information is located at: Victim Services
  • You can also call the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE), toll-free at 1-800-467-4943. VINE is a 24-hour; anonymous, computer-based telephone service that provides inmate information.
In order to unsubscribe from all notification emails, navigate here to the Unsubscribe from Email Alerts page. Enter your email address in the two fields and then click "Unsubscribe".
  • In order to register, you may visit the Register for Alerts by Location page on our website. Fill out the physical address and radius you wish to be notified about and then enter your email address. You must check a box to agree to receive the emails, and then click "Submit".
  • In order to unsubscribe from all notification emails, navigate here to the Unsubscribe from Email Alerts page. Enter your email address in the two fields and then click "Unsubscribe".
  • In order to change an email address, you will need to unsubscribe the original email address and register the new email address as if you had never registered before.
Please ensure that your system is set up to allow the sender Sex.Offender.Notification@vsp.virginia.gov or the domain vsp.virginia.gov to send you e-mail. If this is not done, your firewall or Internet Service Provider (ISP) may reject the community notifications as spam. If not successful, you will need to contact your ISP
If you have changed your address of residence, and did not re-register the change of address as required by law within three (3) days of relocating, you will not receive your verification form in the mail and are in violation of the law. Accordingly, you must immediately report to the nearest State Police or local law enforcement agency where you physically reside and submit your change of address as required. If you have not moved and/or you have complied with all registration duties and have not yet received the re-registration form, have your Registry Number available and phone (804) 674-2825.
Any juvenile tried and convicted in the circuit court of one of the offenses requiring registration pursuant to § 9.1-902 of the Code of Virginia must register. Effective July 1, 2005, juveniles over the age of 13 at the time of the offense, who are tried as a juvenile and are adjudicated delinquent, are also included within the registry if the trial Court determined that the circumstances of the offense require offender registration and ordered the juvenile to register pursuant to § 9.1-902(C) of the Code of Virginia.
The purpose of the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry (Registry) shall be to assist the efforts of law-enforcement agencies and others to protect their communities and families from repeat offenders and to protect children from becoming victims of criminal offenders by helping to prevent such individuals from being allowed to work directly with children.
Offenders meeting the criteria established by Virginia Code Section 9.1-901 must register. If you believe the offender meets the criteria, please provide as much information concerning this person, i.e. name, date of birth, name of court, etc. Submit the information to this email address: sor.vsp@vsp.virginia.gov. Once we receive this information, research will be conducted and if the person meets the criteria for registration, an investigation will be initiated.
Information regarding a particular offender can be submitted via the "Submit a Tip" button on an offender’s detail page within the public registry.
If you have changed your address of residence, and did not re-register the change of address as required by law within three (3) days of relocating, you will not receive your verification forms in the mail and are in violation of the law. Accordingly, you must immediately report to the nearest State Police or local law enforcement agency where you physically reside and submit your change of address as required. If you have not moved and/or you have complied with all registration duties and have not yet received the re-registration form, have your Registry Number available and phone (804) 674-3085.
Virginia does not have a law that restricts offenders from living together.
The Registry is updated daily.
Only the information on the web site can be disseminated to the public. There are many reasons why an offender may be removed from the website. Some examples are: 1) an offender moves to another state, 2) an offender petitions the court for the removal of their information from the registry and the court approves the petition, 3) if after further research the offender does not meet all of the requirements for registration, and 4) death.
Research is conducted on offenders who have been convicted in other states before a decision is made as to the offender’s classification. The Registry reviews the elements of the out of state crime and it is compared to the list of Virginia’s registerable offenses for a match. The age of the victim, the circumstances of the crime and time frame of the conviction are reviewed to determine if the offender meets Virginia’s requirement to register. This information is also used to determine the classification of the offender. If the offense is not equivalent, but the offender is a registered sex offender in the jurisdiction of their conviction, they are required to register.
An offender on probation with the Department of Corrections will be indicated by an offender status of “Probation Supervision” on the offender’s detail page within the public registry.
The Registry initiates an investigation based upon the information that you have provided. Several databases are reviewed for pertinent information, then a request is forwarded to a trooper for investigation. Investigations vary in duration and may take up to several weeks.
No, we do not disseminate information on active investigations.
We are not allowed by law to disseminate or confirm any information that is not listed on the web site. To verify if the prospective employee is the same person that is on the Registry, you will need to complete the Criminal History Background Search form at this link.
The Registry initiates an investigation based of the information that you have provided. Several databases are reviewed for pertinent information then a request is forwarded to a trooper for investigation. The address will not be removed until a Trooper investigates and determines the offender cannot be located. Once this task has been completed, the Registry will remove the address from the web site and the investigation will continue. Investigations vary in duration and may take up to several weeks.
No, that information is not available to the public, but is used by law enforcement agencies during investigations.
No, that information is not available to the public, but is used by law enforcement agencies during investigations.
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