Access Decatur Sex Offenders

Sex offender registration in Decatur is handled by the Morgan County Sheriff's Office. Decatur sits along the Tennessee River in north Alabama with about 58,000 residents. The sheriff has a dedicated Sex Offender Compliance team.

Morgan County Sheriff's Office

The Morgan County Sheriff handles all sex offender registration for Decatur residents. Every person on the registry must check in at the sheriff's office in person four times per year. They come during their birth month and every three months after that. Staff take a new photo, verify their address, and update the state database.

Decatur is the county seat of Morgan County. The sheriff's office sits on Lee Street NE downtown. Sex offenders living anywhere in Decatur must register here. The sheriff has a dedicated Sex Offender Compliance team that does monthly checks on offenders in the area. They also have a mobile app called "MCSO Now" for alerts and news.

How to Search Decatur Sex Offenders

You can search for sex offenders in Decatur through the state registry website or the sheriff's page. Both are free to use. The database has every registered offender in Morgan County. Search by name, address, or ZIP code to see photos, home addresses, and offense details.

The ALEA Community Information Center at app.alea.gov/community is the main search tool. Click the Sex Offender link and type in a Decatur address. A map shows pins for each offender nearby. Click any pin to see the full profile with photo and conviction details.

The Morgan County Sheriff has a dedicated sex offender page at morgancountysheriffal.gov/sex-offender-registration-and-notification-process. This page explains the registration process and community notification rules. It links to the state database for searches.

To search sex offenders in Decatur, you can use:

• Name of the offender
• Street address in Decatur
• ZIP code (35601, 35602, 35603)
• Map view to browse by neighborhood

Registration Requirements in Decatur

Sex offenders in Decatur must follow Alabama law on registration. Code of Alabama Section 15-20A-10 requires quarterly in-person check-ins. This means four visits per year to the Morgan County Sheriff. Missing a check-in is a felony.

Each visit costs $10. The sheriff collects this fee to fund the registry program. Offenders who cannot pay can ask for a waiver by showing proof of low income. At each visit, staff check the person's home address, job, and vehicle info. They take a new photo if the old one is out of date.

Offenders who move into Decatur from another place have three days to register. This applies to people from other Alabama counties and from out of state. They must also tell the sheriff within three days if they change jobs, get a new car, or move to a new address. Code of Alabama Section 15-20A-22 sets these rules.

Note that the sheriff's office is closed Friday afternoons. Plan your visits for Monday through Thursday, or Friday morning before noon. The Sex Offender Compliance team does monthly checks, so they will know if you miss your deadline.

What Decatur Records Show

Sex offender records in Decatur show detailed info about each person on the list. Code of Alabama Section 15-20A-8 says what the public can see. The goal is to let residents know who lives near them and what crimes they committed.

Each listing in the Decatur area shows:

• Full name and any aliases used
• Date of birth
• Current photo
• Home address in Decatur
• Work address and employer name
• Physical marks like scars or tattoos
• Vehicle make, model, and plate number
• Sex offense history with conviction dates

Some info stays private. Social Security numbers, phone numbers, and victim names are not shown online. The sheriff has this data but keeps it out of public view. If you need more details about an offender in Decatur, call the sheriff's office at (256) 351-4800.

Residency Rules in Decatur

Sex offenders in Decatur cannot live near schools or child care centers. Code of Alabama Section 15-20A-11 sets a 2,000-foot buffer zone. This is about four-tenths of a mile. The rule applies to any place that regularly serves children.

Decatur has schools spread across the city. Decatur City Schools and private schools create buffer zones in most residential areas. The Tennessee River runs through the area, and some offenders end up in spots near industrial areas or outside the main residential zones.

If you are concerned about an offender living too close to a school, report it to the sheriff. They will check the address and take action if it violates the law. The Sex Offender Compliance team investigates these reports.

Community Notification in Decatur

When a sex offender moves into a Decatur neighborhood, the sheriff sends out postcards. Code of Alabama Section 15-20A-21 requires notice to homes within 1,000 to 2,000 feet of the offender's address. Schools within three miles also get told.

Morgan County uses postcard notifications. Residents within the notification zone get a card in the mail with the offender's photo and basic info. This happens within days of the person registering.

You can sign up for email alerts through OffenderWatch. Enter your Decatur address and the system sends an email when an offender moves into or out of your area. This free service supplements the postcard system. The sheriff's mobile app "MCSO Now" also sends alerts and news about local law enforcement activity.

Report a Violation in Decatur

If you think a sex offender in Decatur is breaking the rules, report it right away. Common problems include living at the wrong address, failing to check in, or being near a school. Code of Alabama Section 15-20A-37 makes these acts a Class C felony with one to ten years in prison.

To report a violation, call the Morgan County Sheriff at (256) 351-4800. You can also use the tip form on the state registry website or call ALEA at 334-676-7250. Give as much detail as you can. Include the offender's name, what rule they broke, and when it happened.

The sheriff runs monthly compliance checks in Decatur. The Sex Offender Compliance team visits offenders at home to make sure they live where they say they do. They also check work addresses. Morgan County takes these checks seriously. Tips from the public help catch violations early.

Decatur Police and Sex Crimes

The Decatur Police Department investigates sex crimes in the city. They do not handle registration, but they work closely with the sheriff on compliance. If a sex crime happens in Decatur, call the police at (256) 341-4600. For emergencies, call 911.

Decatur PD has detectives who focus on sex crimes. They work with the Morgan County Sheriff and state agencies. The city sits along the Tennessee River and the Singing River Trail, which brings visitors to the area. Officers patrol these public spaces and watch for violations.

Limestone County and Decatur

A small part of the Decatur area extends into Limestone County. If you live in the Limestone County portion, you register with the Limestone County Sheriff in Athens, not Morgan County. Check your property records if you are not sure which county you are in.

Most Decatur residents are in Morgan County. The sheriff's office can tell you which county handles your address. Both counties follow the same state rules, but you must register with the right one.

Morgan County Sex Offenders

Decatur is in Morgan County, and all sex offender registration goes through the Morgan County Sheriff. The county covers Decatur and surrounding rural areas. For full details on registration rules, fees, and county resources, see the Morgan County page.

View Morgan County Sex Offenders

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Decatur in north Alabama. Each has its own county for sex offender registration.