SORN information prior to 2008

The Ohio Legislature enacted Ohio Revised Code chapter 2950, the Sex Offender Registration law,  in 1997.  This law requires  persons convicted of specified crimes and designated as either a Sexual Predator, Habitual Sex Offender or Sexually Oriented Offender, to register with the Sheriff of the county in which they will live.  This registration procedure takes place upon release from a term of imprisonment or, if not imprisoned, then upon moving into a county after conviction.  The three classifications are defined as follows:

Sexual Predator is defined as a person who has been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, committing a sexually oriented offense and who is likely in the future to commit additional sexually oriented offenses. Offenders can be classified as sexual predators in one of the following ways: 1. The offender is convicted of a sexually violent offense with a sexually violent predator specification, or 2.,  the sentencing court, after holding a sexual predator hearing pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 2950.09, determines that the offender is a sexual predator. Offenders designated as sexual predators are subject to registration/verification requirements for life unless a judge modifies or terminates the sexual predator designation. Sexual predators are subject to the neighbor / community notification provisions and are  subject to registration/verification every 90 days.

Habitual Sex Offender is defined as a person who has been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, committing a sexually oriented offense, and who previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more sexually oriented offenses. (2950.01) Offenders designated as habitual sex offenders are subject to registration / verification requirements annually for a period of 20 years after release. A sentencing judge may determine that a habitual sex offender is subject to neighbor / community notification.

Sexually Oriented Offender is a person who has been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, committing a sexually oriented offense, but who has not been designated as a sexual predator or habitual sex offender. Sexually oriented offenders are subject to the registration / verification requirements annually for a period of 10 years after release. These offenders are not subject to neighbor / community notification .

Neighbor Notification is defined as all occupants of residences within one thousand feet of the offender's place of residence that are located within the county served by the Sheriff (2950.11 Effective 6-13-2002.)   (Prior law only required notification to those neighbors adjacent to the property where the offender was living)

Residence Locations  No person who has been convicted of, is convicted of, has pleaded guilty to, or pleads guilty to either a sexually oriented offense that is not a registration-exempt sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense shall establish a residence or occupy residential premises within one thousand feet of any school premises.   School premise is defined as the parcel of real property on which any school is situated, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activities, or training provided by the school is being conducted on the premises at the time a criminal offense is committed, or any other parcel of real property that is owned or leased by a board of education of a school or the governing body of a school for which the state board of education prescribes minimum standards under section 3301.07 of the Revised Code and on which some of the instruction, extracurricular activities, or training of the school is conducted, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activities, or training provided by the school is being conducted on the parcel of real property at the time a criminal offense is committed.