Public Disclosure of Registered Sex Offenders Information

The Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Department has established this web site to provide information to the public about Level II, Level III and transient registered sex offenders/kidnappers who are living in our community.

This notification is not intended to increase fear; rather it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public.

Sex offenders/kidnappers have always lived in our communities and law enforcement has no legal authority to direct where sex offenders/kidnappers may or may not live. Unless court ordered restrictions exist, an offender is Constitutionally free to live wherever he or she chooses. However, the Community Protection Act of 1990 requires that those convicted of sex offenses/kidnapping must register, with the primary legislative intent, "to assist law enforcement agencies' efforts to protect their communities" by providing relevant and necessary information.

The Sheriff releases sex offender/kidnapper information pursuant to RCW 4.24.550 which authorizes law enforcement to release information to the public regarding sex offenders/kidnappers when the agency determines that disclosure of information is relevant and necessary to protect the public and to counteract the danger created by the 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 extent of 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.
Low risk to re-offend within the community at large. Information shall be shared with other law enforcement agencies and, upon request, the Sheriff 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 I offenders MAY NOT be the subject of general public notification.

Level II.
Moderate risk to re-offend within the community at large. Relevant, necessary and accurate information concerning risk Level II 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 reside, or is regularly found. Level II offenders MAY NOT be the subject of general public notification.

Level III.
High risk to re-offend within the community at large. Relevant, accurate and necessary information concerning offenders classified as risk Level III may be disclosed to the public at large.