Predatory Offenders

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Predatory Offender Laws require offenders to register current personal information with their local Police Department for at least 10 years because of the nature of their crimes and the proven increased risk for recidivism. The recorded information includes current employment, residency, vehicle description, and personal appearance. The Police Department takes this responsibility seriously and works hard to ensure these laws are complied with and the registered information is accurate and current.

Upon their release, many Predatory Offenders are directly responsible to their Probation Officer. In addition, each registered Predatory Offender in Moorhead is assigned to a Police Officer for Quarterly compliance checks. The Officer reviews the offender's file and makes contact with the person to ensure that the information is current. By being active with this responsibility we are able to assist the offenders with complying with the requirements as well as having a better knowledge base of citizens in our community.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections website displays the names of all Minnesota Level III offenders. Minnesota law states that only Level III Offenders are public information.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in St. Paul maintains the database for all Minnesota Predatory Offenders. All information changes are reported to this location so there is one responsible agency. The BCA utilizes mail correspondence as a tool to ensure residency. If the required paperwork isn't returned within 30 days, the offender file status is changed to non-compliant. A new Minnesota law as of 2006 allows for the name of any offender with a non-compliant status to become public information. The BCA has established a public website to view these individuals.

Expand/Contract Questions and Answers

Are predatory offenders wanted by the police?
Generally, no. Community notification is not part of the offender's punishment for an offense. Most sex offenders residing in the community have served the prison or jail times imposed on them and have been properly released to live in the community. Although many of these offenders are still under some form of correctional supervision (i.e., probation or supervised release), some are not.
How can I obtain information about level III offenders living in my community?
Information about Level III offenders is posted on the Department of Corrections website.
Is it okay to take steps to try to get a predatory offender to leave the community?
No. The community notification law is a civil law aimed at furthering public safety and is not considered punishment. The harassment of individuals subject to community notification by community members could lead to a court deciding that the law is punishment and unconstitutional in certain cases; if this happened, Minnesota's ability to conduct community notification on predatory offenders would be significantly reduced.
What are the various risk levels and what do they mean?
There are three levels, as follows:
- Level I offenders have a risk assessment score that indicates a low risk of re-offense.
- Level II offenders have a risk assessment score that indicates a moderate risk of re-offense.
- Level III offenders have a risk assessment score that indicates a high risk of re-offense.
- Unassigned offenders have not been through the Minnesota Penitentiary System and thus assigned a risk level. These Offenders from other states are treated as Level II offenders.
What is community notification?
Minnesota's community notification law requires assignment of risk levels to predatory offenders (i.e., sex offenders) who are required to register under Minnesota's predatory offender registration law. Based upon the risk level assigned to the offender, law enforcement must share certain information and may share other information about the offender with certain individuals and entities in the area where the offender lives, works, or attends school. This law aims to increase public safety by letting people know where these offenders are in the community.
What type of community notification occurs for the various risk levels?
The type of community notification that occurs depends on the risk level to which an offender has been assigned. The depth and breadth of the disclosure depends upon the level of danger posed by the offender, his or her pattern of offending behavior, and the need of community members for information to enhance individual and community safety. Notification for the three levels is as follows:

Level I Offenders
The law enforcement agency may maintain information about the offender within the agency and disclose it to other law enforcement agencies. The law enforcement agency also may disclose the information to any victims or witnesses to the offense committed by the offender. The agency must disclose information to victims of the offense who have requested disclosure and to adult members of the offender's immediate household.

Level II Offenders
The law enforcement agency may disclose the same information it may disclose on Level I offenders and it also may disclose information to agencies and groups the offender is likely to encounter. These agencies and groups include the staff members of public and private educational institutions, day care establishments, and establishments and organizations that primarily serve individuals likely to be victimized by the offender. The agency also may disclose information to individuals the agency believes are likely to be victimized by the offender based on the offender's pattern of offending or victim preference.

Level III Offenders
The law enforcement agency must disclose the information to the persons and entities that may receive notice about Level I and II offenders. In addition, the agency must disclose information to other members of the community whom the offender is likely to encounter, unless the agency determines that public safety would be compromised by the disclosure or that a more limited disclosure is necessary to protect the identity of the victim. When a Level III offender moves into a community, law enforcement typically holds a community meeting to provide information about the offender.
Who is a predatory offender?
A predatory offender is an offender who is required to register under the predatory offender registration law, except for individuals who are required to register solely because of a juvenile delinquency determination. A person is treated as a predatory offender if the person has committed felony criminal sexual conduct or certain other designated sex crimes, kidnapping, or false imprisonment. These crimes are often referred to as predatory offenses. The law recognizes as predatory offenders those individuals who have committed these crimes under Minnesota law, federal law, or the law of other states. The law also requires registration of certain individuals who have been civilly committed as sexually dangerous persons or as mentally ill and dangerous, provided the person was charged with a predatory offense.

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