Houston County Sex Offender Registry

Houston County sex offender records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Dothan. The county is Alabama's youngest, established in 1903, and is known as the Peanut Capital of the World.

Houston County Sheriff's Office

The Houston County Sheriff handles all sex offender registration for the county. Offenders must come to the office in person. They bring a photo ID and pay the $10 quarterly fee. The sheriff takes a new photo and updates the state database.

Houston County is in southeast Alabama with Dothan as the county seat. It is the youngest county in the state, formed in 1903. With over 113,000 residents, it is one of the larger counties in the Wiregrass region. The sheriff's office provides an online inmate search through Southern Software and maintains active registry compliance.

How to Search Houston County Sex Offenders

Searching for sex offenders in Houston County is free and open to all. The state runs a public database with every registered offender. You do not need to create an account or pay to use it.

Go to the ALEA Community Information Center at app.alea.gov/community and click on Sex Offenders. Search by name if you know who you are looking for. Enter an address or ZIP code to see who lives nearby. The site shows a map with pins for each offender. Click any pin to see the full record.

Search options for Houston County:

• Name or alias
• Street address in Dothan or other towns
• ZIP code
• Map view to browse the county

You can also call the sheriff at (334) 677-4882. Staff can confirm if a person is on the registry. They can give counts of offenders in certain areas. For written records, send a request to the sheriff's office.

Registration Requirements in Houston County

Sex offenders in Houston County must follow state law. Code of Alabama § 15-20A-10 requires quarterly in-person verification. That is four visits per year. Offenders check in during their birth month and every three months after. Missing a visit is a felony.

Each visit costs $10. The sheriff uses this to run the registry. Offenders who cannot pay may ask for a waiver with proof of low income. At each visit, the sheriff checks address, job, and car info. A new photo is taken and fingerprints updated if needed.

People moving into Houston County have three days to register. This applies to those coming from other Alabama counties or from out of state. Offenders must also tell the sheriff within three days if they change jobs or get a new car. These rules are in Code of Alabama § 15-20A-22.

What Houston County Records Show

Sex offender records in Houston County give the public key details about each registered person. Code of Alabama § 15-20A-8 says what can be shared. The goal is to help residents know who lives near them.

Each Houston County listing shows:

• Full name and aliases
• Date of birth
• Current photo
• Home address
• Work address and employer
• Physical description and marks
• Car information
• Sex offense history with dates

Some info stays private. Social Security numbers, phone numbers, and victim details are not online. The sheriff has this data but does not share it with the public. Contact the office for more info about a specific offender.

Residency Rules in Houston County

Sex offenders in Houston County cannot live near schools or childcare centers. Code of Alabama § 15-20A-11 sets a 2,000-foot buffer zone. That is about four-tenths of a mile. The rule covers any place that regularly serves children.

Dothan and other towns may have extra local rules. Some ban offenders from parks or libraries used by kids. The Dothan Police do monthly residence checks on offenders in the city. Check with local city halls to see what applies. The sheriff can tell you if a specific address is allowed.

The buffer zone limits housing in populated areas like Dothan. Some offenders end up in rural parts of the county. If you think an offender lives too close to a school, call the sheriff. They will check the address.

Community Notification in Houston County

When a sex offender moves into Houston County, the sheriff notifies the community. Code of Alabama § 15-20A-21 requires notice to homes within 1,000 to 2,000 feet. Schools within three miles also get told. This happens within days of registration.

Sign up for email alerts through OffenderWatch. Enter your address on the state search site. You will be notified when an offender moves into or out of your area. This is free and helps families stay informed about activity near their homes.

For high-risk offenders, the sheriff may post flyers or hold meetings. These steps depend on the situation. Call (334) 677-4882 if you want more info about someone on the registry.

Report a Violation in Houston County

If you think a sex offender in Houston County is not following the rules, report it. Common problems include wrong address, missed check-ins, or being near a school. Code of Alabama § 15-20A-37 makes these acts a Class C felony with one to ten years in prison.

To report, call the Houston County Sheriff at (334) 677-4882. You can also tip through OffenderWatch or contact ALEA. Give as much detail as you can. Include the offender's name, what rule they broke, and when you saw it. Tips from residents help catch those who try to hide.

The sheriff does regular compliance checks. Deputies visit offenders at home to confirm addresses. They check jobs and look for unreported vehicles. If something does not match the registry, let the sheriff know.

Cities in Houston County

Houston County has several cities and towns. All sex offenders in these areas register with the Houston County Sheriff. The county seat is Dothan, which is the only city in the county with a population over 50,000.

Other towns in Houston County include Ashford, Columbia, Cowarts, and Taylor. These smaller communities all go through the county sheriff for registration.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Houston County. If you live near the line, register with the right sheriff. Sex offenders must register where they actually live.