Being able to locate the density of sex offenders in Texas is an important skill to have. Because individuals that have been convicted of sexual offenses tend to have a very high recidivism rate, you should be aware of where they are so both you and your loved ones are prepared to stay away from them. In this article, we will explain exactly what the state of Texas has determined is a sex offender, how best to locate them, and then provide you with some statistics concerning Texas sex offenders.
Who is considered a Sex Offender in Texas?
You can find the statutes in Texas that outline what a sex offender in Texas is at https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/HB02034F.pdf. Essentially, a sex offender is any individual that has committed a crime in which the conduct was sexually motivated. This ranges across a broad variety of topics and incidences, and the law empowers Texan courts a great deal of flexibility. A sex crime in Texas can be rape, aggravated sexual misconduct, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, and even sexual assault against minors.
In Texas, as with many other states in the county, sex offenders must register themselves on a Sex Offender Registry for a term dependent on the crime they were convicted of. Additionally, many jurisdictions require sex offenders to announce their presence to neighbors.
The Texas Department of State Health Services provides a listing of all of the statutes and laws that are currently in effect and deal with TX sex offenders. You can find this listing at https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/crime-records-service/texas-sex-offender-registration-program.
Generally speaking, sex offenders are not permitted to be anywhere near public places where children congregate, such as parks, playgrounds, schools and libraries.
How can you look up sex offender information in Texas?
You can access the Texas Sex Offender Registry through the Texas Department of Public Safety at https://publicsite.dps.texas.gov/SexOffenderRegistry. Here, by searching based on name, address, county, school, or even zip code, you can view a list of all of the sex offenders in your area or in any other area.
The Texas Department of Public Safety also provides an online database of the Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders, which you can access at https://publicsite.dps.texas.gov/SexOffenderRegistry. This database provides a physical description of the wanted individual, the potential reward for locating these offenders, and an explanation of why they have been placed on the Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders listing. This database functions only at the statewide level.
The TDPS also provides a Criminal History Name Search tool at https://securesite.dps.texas.gov/DpsWebsite/CriminalHistory/, which you can use to find further information about Texas sexual offenses.
Finally, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice provides an Offender Information Search tool at https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/ks_offender.html. This tool is used primarily for looking up the criminal records of persons in Texas prisons, including those convicted of sexual crimes.
Statistics about sex offenders in Texas
A variety of different resources exist which provide statistical data on sex offenders in Texas. One of these, provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, can be found at https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/table-10/10tbl10tx.xls. This list provides data about crime in general, and not just for Texas sex offenders. You can view a similar database, sorted by city of offense, at https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/table-8/table-8-texas
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice produces a Statistical Report for each financial year at https://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/documents/Statistical_Report_FY2014.pdf. This report can be used to see the frequency and severity of sexual offenses in a given area in Texas, as well as a variety of other criminal information.
Finally, you should feel free to contact the sheriff’s office of your county to inquire about sex offenders in your county. Because of how sexual assault laws function, the sheriff will be able to provide you with the names and the addresses of any convicted sex offenders in your area.