What is the Sex Offender Registry?
What is the Sex Offender Registry?
Every state and U.S. territory requires those convicted of sex offenses to be added to a registry to be monitored and tracked after their release back into the community. Information about the offender is collected and shared with local and federal authorities, as well as the general public. Requirements and restrictions are often placed on registered sex offenders. That registration process is unique in each state and U.S. territory.
What is SORNA?
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) was passed in 2006 as part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act to provide federal standards for jurisdictions to follow. SORNA calls for states and U.S. territories to meet minimum requirements for sex offender registration and notification.
Why Are the Requirements for Sex Offender Registration Different Everywhere?
While SORNA’s guidelines streamlined registration and notification requirements across the country, these requirements are far from uniform. Each jurisdiction determines the details of their own registration process. This leaves a patchwork of rules for sex offenders that vary widely depending on where a registrant lives or works.
Where PIN Comes In
Probation Information Network developed a list of questions regarding the sex offender registration requirements across the country. These are questions that might concern the public, victims and their advocates, or those who are facing registration or are currently registered and their loved ones. We then searched the statutes or code of each jurisdiction for the laws surrounding sex offender registration and notification. Where necessary, we consulted with the law enforcement agency in charge of the jurisdiction’s registry to provide clear and concise answers to the following questions:
- What is the duration of registration?
How long must a sex offender remain on the registry? The length of time a sex offender must comply with registration requirements varies widely depending on the jurisdiction where the registrant lives, and the level of the offense committed. All but 2 jurisdictions offer a path for eventual removal from the registry for at least some of their registrants.
- Must the immediate community be notified directly, either by the offender or law enforcement?
Every jurisdiction has passive community notification in the form of a public sex offender registry website. Concerned citizens are free to search the website and can sign up for email notifications if a sex offender moves into their neighborhood. Some jurisdictions go even further and require active notification, where either law enforcement or the offender themselves is required to directly notify the immediate community that a sex offender is in the area. This can take many forms, including electronic, mail, or in-person notification, publication in local newspapers, and community meetings.
- What are the residence distance restrictions?
Are there any restrictions on where a registered sex offender can live? Some jurisdictions restrict registrants from living within a measured distance of certain places. This restriction could be for all registrants, or only for higher-level offenders or those under supervision. Some jurisdictions do not have a state-wide restriction but do allow local jurisdictions to enact their own.
- What are the employment distance restrictions?
Registered sex offenders are usually restricted from certain types of employment, and from working at establishments that specifically cater to minors. Some jurisdictions go even further and restrict registrants from working within a measured distance of certain places.
- Is an employer’s information included on the public registry?
Returning citizens of every type need to find employment upon reentry, and sex offenders are no exception. Some jurisdictions include registrants’ employment information on the public registry website. This could be the employer’s address or in some cases the name of the employer.
- Are online identifiers included on the public registry?
Some jurisdictions require registered sex offenders to report any identifiers they use online, such as email addresses and social media user names. In some jurisdictions that information is included on the public registry website, separate from the registrant’s profile, in a feature that allows the public to search by specific identifiers.
- Is a state-issued ID required to be labeled?
Some jurisdictions require a state-issued ID, such as a driver’s license, to be labeled to identify the holder as a registered sex offender. This label could be the words “Sex Offender” printed on the ID in a prominent place or a more subtle designation known to law enforcement.
- What is the cost of registration?
Is there a fee to register as a sex offender? Some jurisdictions pass on some of their administrative costs to the registrants. This could be a one-time fee paid only upon initial registration, or an ongoing fee paid annually or quarterly. Some jurisdictions charge a fee every time a registrant updates their information.
- How long can a registrant be in the state for work or education before registration is required?
Does a sex offender have to register if they work or go to school in a different state? It depends on the state, and how long the registrant will be there. Some jurisdictions require registrants to notify authorities immediately, while others allow limited stays without requiring registration. Registrants currently under supervision usually need permission from their Parole or Probation Officer before traveling and should always consult their supervising officer.
- How long can a registrant visit the state before registration is required?
Can a registered sex offender go on vacation? Does a sex offender have to register if they visit a different state? It depends on the state, and how long the registrant will be there. Some jurisdictions require registrants to notify authorities immediately, while others allow limited stays without requiring registration. Registrants currently under supervision usually need permission from their Parole or Probation Officer before traveling and should always consult their supervising officer.
The answers provided are taken directly from the laws found on the state or territory’s legislative website or, where necessary, from the website of the law enforcement agency in charge of the jurisdiction’s registry. In some cases, we contacted state or territory officials for clarification and have directly quoted those conversations.
Disclaimer
While we stand by our research, it is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered legal advice and, while we strive to provide accurate and up to date information, it is not guaranteed to be complete or correct. We provide links to each jurisdiction’s legislative and law enforcement websites and maintain a directory of lawyers who specialize in sex offender registration laws. For those currently under supervision, consult with your Parole or Probation Officer for guidance.
What is the cost of registration?
Is there a fee to register as a sex offender? Some jurisdictions pass on some of their administrative costs to the registrants. This could be a one-time fee paid only upon initial registration, or an ongoing fee paid annually or quarterly. Some jurisdictions charge a fee every time a registrant updates their information.
26 states and territories charge a fee for registration, either one time, annually, or at every update.
This comparison chart is intended to be a quick reference guide to compare the sex offender registry requirements across jurisdictions. It does not provide enough details for a full and accurate picture and should not be used by itself, but rather as a tool alongside the full-text versions.
| State | What is the cost of registration? |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $10 quarterly |
| Alaska | None |
| Arizona | $250 upon conviction |
| Arkansas | $500 upon conviction or initial registration if relocating |
| California | None |
| Colorado | $75 maximum one time; $25 maximum annually or quarterly |
| Connecticut | None |
| Delaware | $30 annually; one time $5 DMV fee |
| Florida | None |
| Georgia | None |
| Hawaii | None |
| Idaho | VSP: $50 annually, $10 each subsequent quarter; others: $80 annually |
| Illinois | $100 annually |
| Indiana | $50 maximum annual fee, $5 maximum per address change |
| Iowa | $25 annually |
| Kansas | $20 quarterly |
| Kentucky | None |
| Louisiana | $60 annually; costs of direct community notifications |
| Maine | $25 annually |
| Maryland | None |
| Massachusetts | $75 annually |
| Michigan | $50 annually, not to exceed $550 cumulatively |
| Minnesota | None |
| Mississippi | $11 quarterly |
| Missouri | $10 maximum at initial registration; $5 for each change |
| Montana | None |
| Nebraska | None |
| Nevada | None |
| New Hampshire | $50 annually |
| New Jersey | None |
| New Mexico | None |
| New York | $10 for each change; at sentencing: felony, $325; misdemeanor, $200; violation, $120; SOR, $50 |
| North Carolina | None |
| North Dakota | None |
| Ohio | $100 upon initial registration; fees for each change may not exceed annual total of $100 for Tier 3 or $25 for all others |
| Oklahoma | None |
| Oregon | $70 annually for those not under supervision |
| Pennsylvania | None |
| Rhode Island | None |
| South Carolina | $150 annually |
| South Dakota | None |
| Tennessee | $150 annually; $50 annual notification fee in certain areas |
| Texas | None |
| Utah | $125 maximum annually |
| Vermont | None |
| Virginia | None |
| Washington | None |
| West Virginia | None |
| Wisconsin | $100 maximum annually |
| Wyoming | Not to exceed $120 + 25% at initial registration; not to exceed $25 + 25% for each change |
| Washington DC | None |
| Guam | $100 upon initial registration |
| NMI | None |
| Puerto Rico | None |
| US Virgin Islands | None |
Alabama
AL Code § 15-20A-22
(a) An adult sex offender shall pay a registration fee in the amount of ten dollars ($10) to each registering agency where the adult sex offender resides beginning with the first quarterly registration on or after July 1, 2011, and at each quarterly registration thereafter.
(b) Each time an adult sex offender terminates his or her residence and establishes a new residence, he or she shall pay a registration fee in the amount of ten dollars ($10) to each registering agency where the adult sex offender establishes a new residence.
Alaska
Although the statutes allow it, registrants are not charged a fee to register.
– Alaska Department of Public Safety
AK Stat § 18.65.087
(d) The Department of Public Safety
(3) may adopt regulations to establish fees to be charged for registration under AS 12.63.010 and for information requests; the fee for registration shall be based upon the actual costs of performing the registration and maintaining the central registry but may not be set at a level whereby registration is discouraged; the fee for an information request may not be greater than $10;
Arizona
A.R.S. § 13-3821.
Q. On conviction of or adjudication of guilty except insane for any offense for which a person is required to register pursuant to this section, in addition to any other penalty prescribed by law, the court shall order the person to pay an additional assessment of two hundred fifty dollars. This assessment is not subject to any surcharge. The court shall transmit the monies received pursuant to this section to the county treasurer. The county treasurer shall transmit the monies received to the state treasurer. The state treasurer shall deposit the monies received in the state general fund. Notwithstanding any other law, the court shall not waive the assessment imposed pursuant to this section.
Arkansas
State-mandated fees are assessed by the court at the time of conviction. Any registered offender relocating to Arkansas is subject to two fees totaling $500 at the time of registration.
– Arkansas Crime Information Center
AR Code § 12-12-906
(c)(1)(B)(ii) Any offender required to register as a sex offender who is entering the State of Arkansas must provide a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sample, that is, a blood sample or saliva sample, upon registration and must pay the mandatory fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) to be deposited into the DNA Detection Fund established by § 12-12-1119.
AR Code § 12-12-910
(b)(1) A person who relocates to this state and was convicted of an offense in another state that requires registration in this state shall pay a fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within ninety (90) days from the date of registration.
California
CA Penal Code § 290.012
(d) No entity shall require a person to pay a fee to register or update his or her registration pursuant to this section. The registering agency shall submit registrations, including annual updates or changes of address, directly into the Department of Justice California Sex and Arson Registry (CSAR).
Colorado
CO Rev Stat § 16-22-108
(7)(a) A local law enforcement agency may establish a registration fee to be paid by persons registering and reregistering annually or quarterly with the local law enforcement agency pursuant to the provisions of this section. The amount of the fee shall reflect the actual direct costs incurred by the local law enforcement agency in implementing the provisions of this article but shall not exceed seventy-five dollars for the initial registration with the local law enforcement agency and twenty-five dollars for any subsequent annual or quarterly registration.
Connecticut
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Delaware
11 DE Code § 4120
(g) There shall be assessed an annual administrative fee in the amount of $30 collected from the offender by January 31 of each year payable at the time of verification.
21 DE Code § 2718
(e) If an applicant is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to § 4120 of Title 11, as amended, for a felony conviction the sentencing court shall take possession of the driver’s license and shall tender to the person being sentenced a temporary license, directing that the person report to the Division of Motor Vehicle for a replacement driver’s license with the following code under restrictions: Y indicating sex offender. The person shall tender to the Division of Motor Vehicle a fee of $5.00 for the replacement license. Upon a person being removed from the registration requirement, the Division of Motor Vehicle shall issue a license without the sex offender code printed upon the license at no charge. The sentencing court shall forward to the Division all licenses that it receives, along with a copy of the sentencing order.
Florida
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Georgia
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Hawaii
None.
Idaho
ID Code § 18-8307
(2) At the time of registration, the sheriff shall obtain a photograph and fingerprints, in a manner approved by the department, and require the offender to provide full palm print impressions of each hand. A violent sexual predator shall pay a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) to the sheriff at the time of the first calendar quarter registration and ten dollars ($10.00) per registration every subsequent quarter in the same calendar year. All other offenders shall pay an annual fee of eighty dollars ($80.00) to the sheriff for registration. The sheriff may waive the registration fee if the violent sexual predator or other offender demonstrates indigency. The fees collected under this section shall be used by the sheriff to defray the costs of violent sexual predator and other sexual offender registration and verification and for electronic notification, law enforcement information sharing and tracking. Irrespective of the classification or designation of the offender or predator, each county shall cause forty dollars ($40.00) per offender per year of the fees collected under this section to be used for development, continuous use and maintenance of a statewide electronic notification, information sharing and tracking system as implemented by the Idaho sheriffs’ association.
Illinois
730 ILCS 150/3
(c) (6) The person shall pay a $100 initial registration fee and a $100 annual renewal fee to the registering law enforcement agency having jurisdiction. The registering agency may waive the registration fee if it determines that the person is indigent and unable to pay the registration fee.
730 ILCS 150/3
(a-5) (2) The registration fees shall only apply to the municipality or county of primary registration, and not to campus registration.
Indiana
IC 36-2-13-5.6
(a) The legislative body of a county may adopt an ordinance:
(1) requiring the local law enforcement authority (as defined in IC 11-8-8-2) to collect:
(A) an annual sex or violent offender registration fee; and
(B) a sex or violent offender address change fee;
(b) If an ordinance is adopted under subsection (a), the legislative body of the county shall establish the amount of the annual sex or violent offender registration fee. However, the annual sex or violent offender registration fee may not exceed fifty dollars ($50).
(c) If an ordinance is adopted under subsection (a), the legislative body of the county shall establish the amount of the sex or violent offender address change fee. However, a sex or violent offender address change fee may not exceed five dollars ($5) per address change.
(d) The legislative body of the county shall determine the manner in which the local law enforcement authority shall collect the annual sex or violent offender registration fee and the sex or violent offender address change fee. However, the annual sex or violent offender registration fee may be collected only one (1) time per year. The sex or violent offender address change fee may be collected each time a sex or violent offender registers an address change with the local law enforcement authority.
Iowa
IA Code § 692A.110
1. A sex offender shall pay an annual fee in the amount of twenty-five dollars to the sheriff of the county of principal residence, beginning with the first required in-person appearance at the sheriff’s office after July 1, 2009. If the sex offender has more than one principal residence in this state, the offender shall pay the annual fee in the county where the offender is first required to appear in person after July 1, 2009. The sheriff shall accept the registration. If, at the time of registration, the sex offender is unable to pay the fee, the sheriff may allow the offender time to pay the fee, permit the payment of the fee in installments, or may waive payment of the fee. Fees paid to the sheriff shall be used to defray the costs of duties related to the registration of sex offenders under this chapter.
Kansas
K.S.A. 22-4905
Any offender required to register as provided in the Kansas offender registration act shall:
(l) remit payment to the sheriff’s office in the amount of $20 as part of the reporting process required pursuant to subsection (b) in each county in which the offender resides, maintains employment or is attending school. Registration will be completed regardless of whether or not the offender remits payment. Failure of the offender to remit full payment within 15 days of registration is a violation of the Kansas offender registration act and is subject to prosecution pursuant to K.S.A. 22-4903, and amendments thereto. Notwithstanding other provisions herein, payment of this fee is not required:
(1) When an offender provides updates or changes in information or during an initial registration unless such updates, changes or initial registration is during the month of such offender’s birthday and every third, sixth and ninth month occurring before and after the month of the offender’s birthday;
(2) when an offender is transient and is required to register every 30 days, or more frequently as ordered by the registering law enforcement agency, except during the month of the offender’s birthday and every third, sixth and ninth month occurring before and after the month of the offender’s birthday; or
(3) if an offender has, prior to the required reporting and within the last three years, been determined to be indigent by a court of law, and the basis for that finding is recorded by the court;
Kentucky
There is no fee at all associated with sex offender registration in KY at this time.
– Kentucky State Police SOR
Louisiana
LA Rev Stat § 15:542
D. The offender shall pay to the appropriate law enforcement agencies with whom he is required to register, except for the campus law enforcement agency of an institution of postsecondary education, an annual registration fee of sixty dollars to defray the costs of maintaining the record of the offender. The payment of such a fee shall be made in accordance with any rule regarding indigency adopted by the judges of the judicial district court in the jurisdiction or as determined by criteria established by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. The offender shall pay such fee upon the initial registration and on the anniversary thereof. Failure by the offender to pay the fee within thirty days of initial registration shall constitute a failure to register and shall subject the offender to prosecution under the provisions of R.S. 15:542.1.4(A)(3). The offender shall not be prevented from registering in accordance with this Section for failure to pay the annual registration fee.
Registrants are also financially responsible for the direct community notifications required by LA Rev Stat § 15:542.1.
Maine
Pre-2013 applies to a person sentenced prior to January 1, 2013.
Post-2013 applies to a person who commits criminal conduct and is sentenced on or after January 1, 2013.
Pre-2013 34-A ME Rev Stat § 11226
The bureau may charge a $25 annual fee to persons required to register under this chapter. Registrants shall pay the fee at the time of initial registration and shall pay the fee on each anniversary of their initial registration.
Post-2013 34-A ME Rev Stat § 11287
The bureau may charge a $25 annual fee to persons required to register under this chapter. Registrants shall pay the fee at the time of initial registration and shall pay the fee on each anniversary of their initial registration.
Maryland
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Massachusetts
MGL c.6 § 178Q
The sex offender registry board shall assess upon every sex offender a sex offender registration fee of $75, hereinafter referred to as a sex offender registry fee. Said offender shall pay said sex offender registry fee upon his initial registration as a sex offender and annually thereafter on the anniversary of said registration; provided, however, that no such fee shall be assessed or collected until the offender has either (1) waived his right to petition for an evidentiary hearing to challenge his duty to register as a sex offender as set forth in section 178L or (2) has completely exhausted the legal remedies made available to him to so challenge said duty to register pursuant to sections 178L and 178M and has not prevailed in his attempt to eliminate said duty. A sex offender’s duty to pay the fee established by this section shall only terminate upon the termination of said offender’s duty to register as a sex offender as set forth in section 178G.
The sex offender registry board may waive payment of said sex offender registry fee if it determines that such payment would constitute an undue hardship on said person or his family due to limited income, employment status, or any other relevant factor. Any such waiver so granted shall be in effect only during the period of time that said person is determined to be unable to pay the sex offender registry fee. The sex offender registry board shall establish procedures relative to the collection and waiver of such fee by regulation. Said sex offender registry fee shall be collected and retained by the sex offender registry board. The sex offender registry board shall account for all such fees received and report said fees annually to the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means.
Michigan
MI Comp L § 28.725a
(6) Except as otherwise provided in section 5b, an individual who reports as prescribed under subsection (3) shall pay a $50.00 registration fee as follows:
(a) Upon initial registration.
(b) Annually following the year of initial registration. The payment of the registration fee under this subdivision must be made at the time the individual reports in the first reporting month for that individual as set forth in subsection (3) of each year in which the fee applies, unless an individual elects to prepay an annual registration fee for any future year for which an annual registration fee is required. Prepaying any annual registration fee must not change or alter the requirement of an individual to report as set forth in subsection (3). The payment of the registration fee under this subdivision is not required to be made for any registration year that has expired before January 1, 2014 or to be made by any individual initially required to register under this act after January 1, 2023. The registration fee required to be paid under this subdivision must not be prorated on grounds that the individual will complete his or her registration period after the month in which the fee is due.
(c) The sum of the amounts required to be paid under subdivisions (a) and (b) must not exceed $550.00.
MI Comp L § 28.725b
(3) If an individual required to pay a registration fee under this act is indigent, the registration fee is waived for a period of 90 days. The burden is on the individual claiming indigence to prove the fact of indigence to the satisfaction of the local law enforcement agency, sheriff’s department, or department post where the individual is reporting.
MI Comp L § 28.722
As used in this act:
(f) “Indigent” means an individual to whom 1 or more of the following apply:
(i) He or she has been found by a court to be indigent within the last 6 months.
(ii) He or she qualifies for and receives assistance from the department of health and human services food assistance program.
(iii) He or she demonstrates an annual income below the current federal poverty guidelines.
Minnesota
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Mississippi
Miss. Code Ann. § 45-33-57
(2) The Department of Public Safety may adopt regulations to establish fees to be charged to registrants for registration, reregistration, and verification or change of address.
Miss. Code Ann. § 45-33-31
(1) (a) Registrants who are in compliance with a program of electronic monitoring under this chapter are required to reregister annually.
(b) All other registrants are required to personally appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver’s License Station to reregister every ninety (90) days.
Offenders are required to pay $11.00 each time they register, which is currently done every three (3) months.
– Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
Missouri
MO Rev Stat § 589.400.
6. For processing an initial sex offender registration the chief law enforcement officer of the county or city not within a county may charge the offender registering a fee of up to ten dollars.
7. For processing any change in registration required pursuant to section 589.414 the chief law enforcement official of the county or city not within a county may charge the person changing their registration a fee of five dollars for each change made after the initial registration.
Montana
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
MT Code § 46-23-504
(8) The offender is responsible, if able to pay, for costs associated with registration. The fees charged for registration may not exceed the actual costs of registration. The department of justice may adopt a rule establishing fees to cover registration costs incurred by the department of justice in maintaining registration and address verification records. The fees must be deposited in the general fund.
Nebraska
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Nevada
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
New Hampshire
RSA 651-B:11
I. An offender shall pay a fee of $50 to the department within 10 days of the registration that occurs within the month of the anniversary of his or her birth. Such payment shall be made in person or shall be mailed to the department.
New Jersey
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
New Mexico
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
New York
NY Corr L § 168-B
8. The division shall charge a fee of ten dollars each time a sex offender registers any change of address or any change of his or her status of enrollment, attendance, employment or residence at any institution of higher education as required by subdivision four of section one hundred sixty-eight-f of this article. The fee shall be paid to the division by the sex offender. The state comptroller is hereby authorized to deposit such fees into the general fund.
NY Penal L § 60.35
1. (a) Except as provided in section eighteen hundred nine of the vehicle and traffic law and section 27.12 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, whenever proceedings in an administrative tribunal or a court of this state result in a conviction for a felony, a misdemeanor, or a violation, as these terms are defined in section 10.00 of this chapter, there shall be levied at sentencing a mandatory surcharge, sex offender registration fee, DNA databank fee and a crime victim assistance fee in addition to any sentence required or permitted by law, in accordance with the following schedule:
(i) a person convicted of a felony shall pay a mandatory surcharge of three hundred dollars and a crime victim assistance fee of twenty-five dollars;
(ii) a person convicted of a misdemeanor shall pay a mandatory surcharge of one hundred seventy-five dollars and a crime victim assistance fee of twenty-five dollars;
(iii) a person convicted of a violation shall pay a mandatory surcharge of ninety-five dollars and a crime victim assistance fee of twenty-five dollars;
(iv) a person convicted of a sex offense as defined by subdivision two of section one hundred sixty-eight-a of the correction law or a sexually violent offense as defined by subdivision three of section one hundred sixty-eight-a of the correction law shall, in addition to a mandatory surcharge and crime victim assistance fee, pay a sex offender registration fee of fifty dollars.
North Carolina
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
North Dakota
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Ohio
ORC § 311.171
(B) The sheriff may charge a fee each time a person does any of the following:
(1) Registers under section 2950.04 or 2950.041 of the Revised Code;
(2) Registers a new residence address under section 2950.05 of the Revised Code;
(3) Verifies a current residence address under section 2950.06 of the Revised Code.
(C) If the sheriff charges one or more fees provided for in division (B) of this section, all of the following apply:
(1) The sheriff shall not require the payment of any fee from a delinquent child until the delinquent child reaches eighteen years of age. When a delinquent child reaches eighteen years of age and the sheriff charges a fee to the delinquent child, the provisions of this section applicable to “offenders” shall be construed to apply to the delinquent child.
(2) For an offender who is a tier III sex offender/child-victim offender, the fees may not exceed a total of one hundred dollars for each registration year.
(3) For an offender who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim offense and who is not described in division (C)(2) of this section, the fees may not exceed a total of twenty-five dollars for each registration year.
ORC § 311.172
(A) The sheriff shall charge a one-time fee of one hundred dollars when a person who, on or after the effective date of this section, is convicted of an offense for which registration is required under section 2950.04 or 2950.041 of the Revised Code registers for the first time. The fee shall be in addition to any fee that may be charged under section 311.171 of the Revised Code.
Oklahoma
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Oregon
ORS § 163A.035
(5) The department shall assess a person who is required to report under ORS 163A.010, 163A.015 or 163A.020 and who is not under supervision a fee of $70 each year. Moneys received by the department under this subsection are continuously appropriated to the department for the purpose of carrying out the department’s duties under ORS 163A.005 to 163A.235. [Formerly 181.810; 2021 c.597 §34]
Pennsylvania
Post 12/20/12 applies to those whose offense was committed on or after December 20, 2012.
Pre 12/20/12 applies to those whose offense was committed before December 20, 2012.
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Rhode Island
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
South Carolina
Part 1B Section 62 – D100 – State Law Enforcement Division 2021-2022 Appropriation Act
62.10. Each Sheriff is authorized to charge and collect an annual amount of one hundred fifty dollars from each sex offender required to register by law. If such sex offender has been declared indigent by the Sheriff of the county in which the offender must register and provides proof of the declaration at the time of registration, the fee will automatically be waived. If an offender is not declared indigent and fails to pay the fee, he is officially declared unregistered.
South Dakota
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Tennessee
TN Code § 40-39-201
(7) The offender is subject to specified terms and conditions that are implemented at sentencing or, at the time of release from incarceration, that require that those who are financially able must pay specified administrative costs to the appropriate registering agency, which shall retain one hundred dollars ($100) of these costs for the administration of this part and shall be reserved for the purposes authorized by this part at the end of each fiscal year, with the remaining fifty dollars ($50.00) of fees to be remitted to the state treasury to be deposited into the general fund of the state; provided, that a juvenile offender required to register under this part shall not be required to pay the administrative fee until the offender reaches eighteen (18) years of age;
TN Code § 40-39-217
(a) (2) The legislative body of any county, metropolitan form of government or municipality that enacts a community notification system pursuant to this subsection (a) may, at the same time as the system is established, enact a notification fee of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) per year from each offender in the county, metropolitan form of government or municipality for the purpose of defraying the costs of the community notification. The notification fee shall be collected at the same time as the one-hundred-fifty-dollar administrative fee collected pursuant to § 40-39-204(b).
Texas
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Utah
UT Code § 77-41-111
(1) Each offender required to register under Section 77-41-105 shall, in the month of the offender’s birth:
(a) pay to the department an annual fee of $100 each year the offender is subject to the registration requirements of this chapter; and
(b) pay to the registering agency, if it is an agency other than the Department of Corrections, an annual fee of not more than $25, which may be assessed by that agency for providing registration.
Vermont
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Virginia
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Washington
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
West Virginia
There is no state-mandated fee, though fees may be assessed by local law enforcement.
Wisconsin
WI Stat § 301.45
(10) Annual fee. The department may require a person who must register as a sex offender to pay an annual fee to partially offset its costs in monitoring persons who must register as sex offenders. The department shall establish any such fee by rule, but the fee may not exceed $100.
Wyoming
WY Stat § 7-19-302
(r) Except as provided in subsection (s) of this section, all offenders required to register or report updated information pursuant to this act shall pay fees established by rules of the division. The division shall establish fees in accordance with the following:
(i) At the time of initial registration, the offender shall pay a state registration fee in an amount not to exceed one hundred twenty dollars ($120.00) and a county registration fee in an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the state registration fee;
(ii) Each time the offender is required to report updated information pursuant to subsection (e), (f), (k) or (m) of this section, the offender shall pay a state reporting fee in an amount not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and a county reporting fee in an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the state reporting fee;
Washington DC
None.
Guam
$100 one-time fee payable upon initial registration.
– Judiciary of Guam, Probation Services Division
Title 9 GCA § 89.09
(f) Fees. The Judiciary of Guam, Probation Division, is authorized to collect reasonable registration fees from registrants. Such fees shall be used for the maintenance and support of the sex offender registration and notification program. One hundred percent (100%) of the fee paid by the registrant shall be given to the Judiciary of Guam, Probation Division.
Northern Mariana Islands
None.
Puerto Rico
None found.
U.S. Virgin Islands
None found.
Some states offer the possibility for registrants to be removed from the registry after meeting certain requirements. Visit the Collateral Consequences Resource Center for a state by state comparison of relief from sex offender registration obligations.
If your state offers a path off the registry, search our directory for a lawyer with experience in registry removal applications.