SEX OFFENDER CLASSIFICATION LEVELS
Sex Offenders:
The Pacific County Sheriff's Office considers the protection of the community from sex offenders of significant importance. To aid the public in developing constructive plans to prepare themselves and their children for residing near released sex offenders, the Community Protection Act of 1990 provides for adequate notice to be given to the community concerning sex offenders who are, or will be, residing within our county.
In accordance with RCW 4.24.550, the Pacific County Sheriff's Office is authorized to release information to the public regarding sex offenders when it determines that disclosure of the information is relevant and necessary to protect the community at large and to counteract the danger created by a particular offender. The content of the information made available, as well as where and how the information is disseminated, is restricted to the standards set forth in Chapter 4.24 and by the Washington State Supreme Court ruling in State v. Ward, 123 Wa 2d 488 (1994).
The Washington State Legislature has determined that the public disclosure of relevant and necessary information shall be related to: (a) the level of risk posed by the offender to the community; (b) the location where the offender resides, intends to reside, or is regularly found; and (c) the needs of the affected community members for information to enhance their individual and collective safety.
Level I Sex Offenders:
The vast majority of
registered sex offenders are classified as Level I offenders. They pose a low
risk of re-offending. These individuals may be first time offenders and they
usually know their victims.
Level I sex offenders may not be the subject of general public notification. Information on Level I sex offenders shall be shared with other law enforcement agencies and, upon request, the Sheriff's Office may disclose relevant, necessary and accurate information to any victim or witness to the offense and to any individual community member who lives near the residence where the offender resides, expects to reside, or is regularly found.
Level II Sex Offenders:
Level II sex offenders pose a moderate risk of re-offending. They generally have more than one victim and the abuse may be long term. These offenders may use threats or a position of trust to commit their crimes. Typically, these individuals do not appreciate the damage they do to their victims.
Level II sex offenders may not be the subject of general public notification. Relevant, necessary and accurate information concerning Level II sex offenders may be disclosed to public and private schools, child day care centers, family day care providers, businesses and organizations that serve primarily children, women or vulnerable adults, and neighbors and community groups near the residence where the offender resides, expects to resides, or is regularly found.
Level III Sex Offenders:
Level III sex offenders pose a high risk of re-offending. They usually have one or more victims and may have committed prior crimes of violence. They may not know their victims. The crime may show a manifest cruelty toward the victims and these sex offenders usually deny or minimize their crimes. These offenders commonly show signs of having a personality disorder.
Relevant, accurate and necessary information concerning Level III sex offenders may be disclosed to the public at large.
List of Level
III Sex Offenders