Persons convicted of a sexual offense in Virginia must register with the local law enforcement agency in their county. The state’s sex offender law requires sex offenders to register upon their release from jail.
The duration of registration depends on the nature of the offense. A sex offender must register within 3 days of release from jail, probation or parole.
Also, an offender must notify the law enforcement agency whenever there is any other change to the registered information.
All notification must occur within 30 minutes using an email or any electronic means. The offender must also report in person within 3 days after the first notification.
Sex offenders in Virginia must verify their registered information every 2 years. They verify their details and have their photograph taken by the authorities.
Offenders listed by the law as “Sexual” must verify their registered details once every year. Failure to do this will mean that they will have to start registering once every 180 days.
Offenders listed by the law as “Sexually violent” must verify their registration every 90 days. Failure to do this will mean they will have to register every 30 days.
Virginia’s sex offender law set up the conditions for the release of every offender in the state. Some Sex offenders in Virginia are not permitted to live within 500 feet of a child facility like schools, parks or daycare. The others will not loiter 100 feet near childcare facilities like a playground, school, or anywhere around kids.
Virginia Sex Offender Registry
The Virginia Sex offender’s registry manages information on sex offenders registered in the state. The register updates this information through the local authorities in the state. The registry ensures all information on sex offenders in the state is accurate and up to date.
Virginia Sex Offender Facts
Facts
- There are 22,345 registered sex offenders in Virginia
Top Offenses
- AGGRAVATED SEXUAL BATTERY
- VIOLENT SEX OFFENDER FAIL TO REGISTER
- RAPE
- CARNAL KNOWLEDGE OF CHILD 13 TO 15 YEARS OLD
- FORCIBLE SODOMY
Counties in Virginia with the highest number of offenders:
- Richmond City
- Fairfax County
- Norfolk City
- Virginia Beach City
- Henrico County
Zip Codes in Virginia with the highest number of offenders:
- 23225
- 23922
- 22031
- 23860
- 23607
- 23223
- 23434
- 23803
- 23222
- 22030
Nearby States:
Virginia Sex Crimes Requiring Offender Registration
Carnal knowledge of a child between thirteen and fifteen years of age - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-63 (West
2008).
Carnal knowledge of certain minors - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-64.1 (West 2008).
Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit rape - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-90 (West 2008).
Production, publication, sale, possession with intent to distribute, financing, etc., of sexually explicit items involving children - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-374.1 (West 2008).
Possession of child pornography - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-374.1:1(d) (West 2008).
Third or subsequent convictions for:
Sexual battery - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-67.4 (West 2008).
Attempted sexual battery - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-67.5(C) (West 2008).
Unlawful filming, videotaping or photographing of another - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-386.1 (West
2008).
Where the victim is a minor or is physically helpless or mentally incapacitated as defined in VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-67.10 (West 2008)., a violation or attempted violation of:
Abduction and kidnapping - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-47(A) (West 2008).
Abduction with intent to extort money or for immoral purpose - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-48(i) or
(iii) (West 2008).
Sexual battery - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-67.4 (West 2008).
Attempted sexual battery - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-67.5(C) (West 2008).
Crimes against nature - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-361 (West 2008).
Adultery and fornication by persons forbidden to marry; incest - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-366 (West 2008).
Use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-374.3(B) (West 2008).
Transporting individuals for illegal sexual activity - 18 USCS § 2421 (West 2008).
Capital murder, where the victim is a minor - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-31 (West 2008).
First and second-degree murder, where the victim is a minor - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-32 (West
2008).
A violation or attempted violation of:
Abduction with intent to extort money or for immoral purpose - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-48(ii) (West 2008).
Rape - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-61 (West 2008).
Forcible sodomy - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-67.1 (West 2008).
Object sexual penetration - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-67.2 (West 2008).
Aggravated sexual battery - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-67.3 (West 2008).
Sexual battery (where the perpetrator is 18 years of age or older, and the victim is under the age of six) - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-67.4 (West 2008).
Attempted rape, forcible sodomy, object sexual penetration, aggravated sexual battery - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-67.5(A), (B) (West 2008).
Taking indecent liberties with children - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-370 (West 2008).
Taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in the custodial or supervisory relationship - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-370.1 (West 2008).
Abduction and kidnapping - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-47(A) (West 2008).
Abduction with intent to extort money or for immoral purpose - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-48(i) or (iii) (West 2008).
Crimes against nature - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-361 (West 2008).
Attempted sexual battery - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-67.5(C) (West 2008).
Adultery and fornication by persons forbidden to marry; incest - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-366 (West 2008).
Production, publication, sale, possession with intent to distribute, financing, etc., of sexually explicit items involving children - VA. CODE ANN. § 18.2-374.1 (West 2008).
Any similar offense under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof and any offense for which registration in a sex offender and crimes against minors registry is required under the laws of the political subdivision where the offender was convicted.
Information maintained in Virginia Sex Offender Registry
VA. CODE ANN. § 9.1-903 (West 2008)
(H)
name
all aliases
date and locality of the conviction for which registration is required
fingerprints
photograph
date of birth
social security number
current physical and mailing address
description of the offense(s) for which he/she was convicted
Community Notification and Websites
VA. CODE ANN. § 9.1-912 (West 2008)
(A)
Registry information shall be disseminated upon request made directly to the State Police or the State Police through a local law-enforcement agency.
Such information may be disclosed to any person requesting information on a specific individual by subsection B.
The State Police shall make Registry information available, upon request, to criminal justice agencies including local law-enforcement agencies through the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN).
Registry information provided under this section shall be used for the administration of criminal justice, for the screening of current or prospective employees or volunteers or otherwise for the protection of the public in general and children in particular.
VA. CODE ANN. § 9.1-913 (West 2008)
The State Police shall develop and maintain a system for making certain Registry information on persons convicted of an offense for which registration is required publicly available using the Internet. The information to be made available shall include:
the offender's name;
all aliases that he has used or under which he may have been known;
the date and locality of the conviction and a brief description of the offense;
his age,
current address and
photograph; and
such other information as the State Police may from time to time determine necessary to preserve public safety including but not limited to the fact that an individual is wanted for failing to register or reregister.
VA. CODE ANN. § 9.1-914 (West 2008)
Any school, day-care service and child-minding service, and any state-regulated or state-licensed child day center, child day program, children's residential facility, family day home or foster home , nursing home or certified nursing facility , and any institution of higher education may request from the State Police and shall be eligible to receive from the State Police electronic notice of the registration or reregistration of any sex offender, the entity may register with the State Police to receive written notification of sex offender registration or reregistration.
Within three business days of receipt by the State Police of registration or reregistration, the State Police shall electronically or in writing notify an entity listed above that has requested such notification, has complied with the requirements established by the State Police and is located in the same or a contiguous zip code area as the address of the offender as shown on the registration.
Any person may request from the State Police and shall be eligible to receive from the State Police electronic notice of the registration or reregistration of any sex offender.
Within three business days of receipt by the State Police of registration or reregistration, the State Police shall electronically notify a person who has requested such notification, has complied with the requirements established by the State Police and is located in the same or a contiguous zip code area as the address of the offender as shown on the registration.
Limitations on Residency or Employment
None
Duration of Registration
VA. CODE ANN. § 9.1-908 (West 2008)
10 years for persons not subject to lifetime registration.
Life for persons convicted of any sexually violent offense.
Timeframe for Registration
Within 30 days of suspension of sentence, 30 days of release, 30 days after establishing residence, 30 days of changing the address
Applies to Offenders Convicted in another State?
Yes
Verification of Address
No
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Class 1 misdemeanor confinement in jail for up to 12 months and a fine up to $2,500, either or both
What does a Sex Offender Look Like?
Most people think sexual predators are scary-looking and creepy. But three out of four adolescents who were sexually assaulted were victimized by someone they knew well.
Most of the time, sexual predators look like regular people. Children and parents need to know and to understand that anyone can be a sexual predator, no matter how "normal" they appear.
Encouraging Children to Share
It isn't always easy to build a trusting relationship with your child. Trying to get your children to share what is going on in their lives can be difficult.
Building an open and welcoming environment from the beginning stages of a child's life is essential. Children are less intimidated and more likely to discuss issues and topics in their lives with an open and supportive environment.
Getting your kids to share serves as a building block for times when your child needs to discuss pressing issues like sex and sexual abuse.
Free Parental eBook
KidsLiveSafe put together a comprehensive parents guide about sexual predators and keeping children safe. This free online eBook includes vital statistics, how to tell if a predator is victimizing a child, and social media and cyber-bullying.