Sex Offenders

Awareness

There are many sex offenders throughout King County, so while it is important to be aware of registered sex offenders in your neighborhood, it is also important to practice safety precautions at all times. 

We recommend you regularly check Level 2 and Level 3 Sex Offenders in your community. You are able to search the database based on a specific address, city, or by using the offender's name.

Classification

Sex Offenders are classified into one of three levels based upon the crime they were convicted of and their history.

Level 1

Most registered sex offenders are classified as Level 1 offenders. They are considered a low risk to re-offend. These individuals may be first time offenders and usually know their victims.

Level 2

Level 2 offenders have a moderate risk of re-offending. They generally have more than one victim and the abuse may be long term. These offenders usually groom their victims and may use threats. These crimes may be predatory with the offender using a position of trust to commit them. Typically these individuals do not appreciate the damage they have done to victims.

Level 3

Level 3 offenders are considered a high risk to re-offend. They usually have one or more victims and may have committed prior crimes of violence. They may not know their victim(s). The crime may show cruelty to the victim(s) and these offenders usually deny or minimize the crime. These offenders commonly have clear indications of a personality disorder.

Community Protection Act

Sex offenders have always lived in our communities, but it wasn't until the Community Protection Act of 1990 passed, which mandates sex offender registration, that law enforcement agencies even knew where they lived. In many cases, police departments are able to share that information with you. 

Abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate, or harass registered sex offenders will not be tolerated. Such abuse can potentially end law enforcement's ability to share information. We believe the only people who "win" if information is not shared are sex offenders, since they derive power through secrecy.