1. Tennessee Sex Offender Registry
Zhenya Teal & Karrie Stanfill
Intelligence Analyst
August 11, 2014

2. History of the Sex Offender Registry
Jacob Wetterling Act established registries for law enforcement purposes: effective in TN in 1995
Megan’s Law (Megan Kanka) established registries for use by the public: effective in TN in 1997
Bullets
Jacob Wetterling Act- State registries; a boy kidnapped at 11 in 1989 in MN
Megan’s Law- info available to public; raped and murdered by her neighbor at age 7 in 1994 in NJ

3. History of the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry Law …
Prior to August 1, 2004, TBI registered all sex offenders in Tennessee.
There was no fee.
TBI mailed out monitoring forms quarterly.
Offenders were required to sign the form and return it.
Offenders did not meet face-to-face with any law enforcement.
Because of our lax laws, TN became a haven for sex offenders.

4. Sex Offender Registry
“The Tennessee Sexual Offender and Violent Sexual Offender Registration, Verification, and Tracking Act of 2004”TCA et seq.

5. Who is required to register?
Anyone convicted of a Tennessee Sexual/Violent Sexual Offense
Anyone who establishes a physical presence, establishes a residence, accepts employment, or attends school (out of state offenders)
Judicial Diversions now register (only required to register for the length of their diversion unless they violate the conditions of diversion)
Juveniles, adjudicated of certain offenses

6. Tennessee Classifications
Tennessee offenders are divided into three categories:
sexual offender,
violent sexual offender, or
violent juvenile sexual offender.

7. 2014 Updates:
Public Chapter 770: Creates a new class of sex offender called an “offender against children”. This offender qualifies as an “offender against children” if his victim is 12 years of age or under. “Offenders against children” are required to remain on the Registry for life. This bill also adds the offense of “aggravated sexual battery” to the juvenile registry. Takes effect July 1, 2014.

8. Sexual Offenders Report in person once a year
These offenders are eligible to apply to be removed from the registry 10 years after the expiration of their sentence, providing they have complied with the provisions of the registry and their victim was not 12yo or under.

9. TN Violent Offenders
Report in person quarterly: March, June, September and December.
Lifetime registration

10. Violent Juvenile Offenders
Report in person quarterly: March, June, September and December.

11. Responsibilities of All Registered Offenders:
Report within 48 hrs. of leaving jail/prison
Report any changes to agency within 48 hours
Must report that he or she is a sex offender if incarcerated
Must provide the name of any current employers
Must provide mailing address if different from physical address
It’s easy for prison to id offenders because they have them so long. It may take you longer. ASK IT ON INTAKE FORM.

12. Responsibilities of Registered Offenders:
Must provide any secondary addresses
Must register vehicle, mobile home,… vehicle that is “used” or “owned.”
Must give victims age at time of offense (if known) and the number of victims
Must report all names used, as well as internet identities, screen & chat names, addresses

13. Homeless Offenders
All Homeless offenders regardless of classification MUST report monthly

14. 40-39-215 Holidays / Occupations: Offenders WHOSE VICTIMS WERE MINORS CANNOT:
Pretend to be, dress as, impersonate or otherwise assume the identity of a real or fictional person or character or a member of a profession, vocation or occupation while in the presence of a minor or with the intent to attract or en-tice a minor to be in the presence of the offender
Engage in employment, a profession, occupation or vocation, regardless of whether compensation is received, that the offender knows or should know will cause the offender to be in direct and unsupervised contact with a minor
Can’t operate an ice cream truck.

15. Related Laws of Interest
Sex offenders cannot get work release, even in the Dept. of Correction.
Sex offenders cannot have trusty status.
Sex offenders cannot legally change their name.
Copies of these laws can be found on the public website under: “Sex Offender Registry Law”

16. SOR Websites

17. SOR Database Operated by TBI and Local Law Enforcement
SOR Public Web Site

18. Law Enforcement Only: www.tbi.tn.gov
Click

19. Law Enforcement Only: www.tbi.tn.gov

20. Law Enforcement Only: www.tbi.tn.gov
Tennessee1

21. Sex Offender Registry Information for Law Enforcement:
Click

22. Sex Offender Registry Information for Law Enforcement: www.tbi.tn.gov

24. Other Features of the SOR Website:
Map Offenders by Location
Sex Offender Law
Related Laws of Interest
Sex Offender FAQ

25. The SOR Website Provides the Following Information on Offenders:
The offender’s complete name as well as any aliases
The offender’s date of birth
The sexual offense(s) or violent sexual offense(s) that the offender has been convicted of
The offender’s primary and secondary addresses
The offender’s race and gender
The date the offender’s information was last verified by law enforcement

26. The SOR Website Provides the Following Information on Offenders:
The most recent photograph of the offender, that has been submitted to the TBI SOR
The offender’s driver’s license number and issuing state
The name of the offender’s parole/probation officer
The name and address of any institution of higher education in the state, at which the offender is employed, carries on a vocation, or is a student

27. The SOR Website Provides the Following Information on Offenders:
A detailed physical description of the offender (height/weight, hair/eye color, scars, marks, and tattoos)
The actual text of the law or laws defining the sexual or violent sexual offense(s) for which the offender has been registered
The offender’s criminal history (convictions) and any existing warrants for the offender.
As of 10/29/ ,857 offenders registered;

28. Most Wanted Sex Offenders Program
Started about 3 years ago- about 10 were captured since (10/29/2013)

29. Most Wanted Sex Offenders Program
One offender from each area of the state: West, Middle, East, and Upper East TN.
Offender must be wanted for one SOR violation. Additional charges are good.
Agency must be willing to extradite from minimum area of surrounding states and the Southeast.
As with all wanted sex offenders, offender must be entered in NCIC.

30. Most Wanted Sex Offenders Program
Contact TBI Analyst Tracey Brooks with candidates:
Intelligence Analyst Tracey Brooks
SOR Hotline:
TBI Find:

31. Incarcerated Offenders (TDOC/Jails)
Newly incarcerated sex offenders with
convictions or circumstances meeting the
criteria for registration in Tennessee, must be
registered within 48 hours of incarceration in
prison, or at a local jail. Following the Sex
Offender Law standard, the 48 hour period
shall exclude weekends and holidays.

32. Sex Offender Identification T.C.A. 40-39-213 and 55-50-353

33. Sex Offender Identification (Back)

34. ID Certificate
TCA

35. ID Certificate
- For anyone who doesn’t have a valid ID (i)(4)

36. Prosecuting a Sex Offender

37. Violations: Section 40-39-208(a)(1-9) “Knowingly”
Failure of an offender to timely register or report;
Falsification of a TBI registration form;
Failure to timely disclose required information to the designated law enforcement agency;
Failure to sign a TBI registration form;
Failure to pay the annual administrative costs, if financially able;
Failure to timely disclose status as a sexual offender or violent sexual offender to the designated law enforcement agency upon re-incarceration;
Failure to timely report to the designated law enforcement agency upon release after re-incarceration.
Failure to timely report to the designated law enforcement agency following re-entry in this state.
Failure to timely report to the offender’s designated law enforcement agency when the offender moves to another state.

38. TBI Instructions Form

39. TBI Registration Form

40. TBI Registration Form for Adjudicated Juveniles

41. Most Violations of the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry are Felonies
Prosecution is at the discretion of the District Attorney General or the United States Attorney: 18 U.S.C. § 2250: Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

42. Home Sweeps and Roundups
Sexual /Violent Offender List by County / District
Violations noted on the SOR verified by local agencies
Warrants obtained by local agencies or Board of Probation & Parole (BOPP)
Search of homes only by consent or BOPP “Specialized Conditions for Sex Offenders”
Residency / Work Restrictions: notations on children present / school zone

43. Home Sweeps and Roundups
TBI will provide assistance with:
Aid in preparation of offender packets with offender information and photo
Aid in preparation of team sheets with team leaders and target assignments
Mobile Command Post to serve as Operations Center
Manpower: Both Agents and Analysts
Public Information Officer Coordination with the News Media

44. Another Important Website:
United States Department of Justice / National Sex Offender Public Web Site

45. Inquire SOR First
Run Criminal History
Take Photograph
Fingerprint
Start Initial Registration

50. Initial Registration

59. Out of State
Offenses: Always use the code that ends in PT5.
Then type in the offense exactly as it is written on Court Documents

65. Fee Box: Yes or No must be checked!
If Yes, put amount paid, date collected, and Agency.
If No, explain.
Must have an FBI & SID # or boxes must be checked

77. Photos: Click the Browse Button!
Locate your photo that you have saved and upload the photo.

78. Photo Editing before starting Initial Registration
If you have Microsoft Office
Click Edit Pictures
Click Compress Pictures
Click Web Pages (Compress For)
Click OK
Save

80. Scenarios:
A violent adult sexual offender, whose victim was 20-years-old cannot live with a minor: T/F?
An adult sexual offender whose victim was age 13, can attend his daughter’s 8th grade graduation, with the principal’s permission: T/F?
An adult sexual or violent sexual offender whose victim was 12 can be a stepparent: T/F?
A Violent Juvenile Sexual offender can go to the park with his girlfriend: T/F?
An adult sexual offender can drop their kids off at school: T/F?

81. Scenarios (cont.):
If a sex offender decorates for Halloween and is seen passing out candy to children, he is in violation of the Sex Offender Registry Law: T/F?
If a sex offender, whose victim is a minor, attends a university with a daycare on campus, he is in violation: T/F?
Every sex offender will eventually be removed from the Sex Offender Registry: T/F?

82. Intelligence Analysts:
Questions????
Intelligence Analysts:
SOR Hotline:
Fax#