Find Washington County Sex Offenders

Washington County sex offender records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Chatom. This is one of Alabama's most rural counties with about 17,000 residents spread across 1,080 square miles.

Washington County Sheriff's Office

The Washington County Sheriff handles sex offender registration for the whole county. The office is located on Court Street in Chatom. Offenders must come here in person to register and verify their info every three months. The sheriff collects fees, takes photos, and updates the state database.

Washington County is one of the most rural counties in Alabama. It covers 1,080 square miles but has only about 17,000 people. The sheriff's department has roughly 30 deputies to cover this large area. Despite the small staff, they maintain the sex offender registry and do compliance checks on registered offenders.

How to Search Washington County Sex Offenders

You can search for sex offenders in Washington County through the statewide database. The ALEA Community Information Center at app.alea.gov/community covers all 67 Alabama counties. Filter by Washington County to see local offenders only.

The OffenderWatch portal at communitynotification.com has the same info. Both sites let you search by name, address, or ZIP code. You can also view a map with pins for each registered offender. The databases update daily.

When searching, you can use:

• Offender name (first, last, or partial)
• Street address in Washington County
• ZIP codes like 36518 (Chatom) or 36507 (Millry)
• City name within the county
• Map view to browse visually

For questions the online search cannot answer, call (251) 847-2202. Staff can confirm if someone is on the registry. They can also answer basic questions about registration. In a rural county like Washington, you may get faster answers by calling than searching online.

Registration Requirements in Washington County

Sex offenders in Washington County follow Alabama law. Code of Alabama § 15-20A-10 requires quarterly in-person check-ins. That means four visits per year. You start with your birth month, then come back every three months.

The fee is $10 per visit. Offenders who cannot pay can ask for a waiver by showing proof of hardship. At each check-in, the sheriff takes a new photo and verifies your file. They confirm your address, job, and any vehicles you own or use.

New residents have three days to register. If you move to Washington County from another part of Alabama or from out of state, you must go to the sheriff within three business days. Code of Alabama § 15-20A-22 sets this rule. Changes to jobs or vehicles must also be reported within three days.

What Washington County Records Show

Sex offender records in Washington County contain detailed info about each person on the list. Code of Alabama § 15-20A-8 specifies what the public can see. The purpose is community awareness.

Each record includes:

• Full name and any aliases used
• Date of birth
• Current photograph
• Home address in Washington County
• Employer and work address
• Physical description with height, weight, eye color
• Scars, tattoos, or marks
• Vehicle info with license plate
• The sex offense that led to registration
• Conviction date

Some info stays private. Social Security numbers are not shown. Phone numbers and emails are hidden from public view. Victim names are never released. The sheriff has all this data but only shares what the law allows.

Residency Rules in Washington County

Sex offenders in Washington County cannot live near schools. Code of Alabama § 15-20A-11 creates a 2,000-foot buffer zone. That is about four-tenths of a mile. The rule covers schools, daycares, and similar places where kids gather.

Washington County is very rural. Schools are spread far apart. This means fewer restricted zones compared to urban counties. Most of the county has no residency limits. Still, areas near Chatom, Millry, and other towns with schools have buffer zones.

If you need to know whether an address is legal for an offender, ask the sheriff. They can check the location against the 2,000-foot rule. In a rural area, an address might look fine but still fall within a restricted zone near a small school.

Community Notification in Washington County

When a sex offender moves into Washington County, the sheriff notifies neighbors. Code of Alabama § 15-20A-21 requires notices to homes within 1,000 to 2,000 feet. Schools within three miles also get alerts. This happens shortly after registration.

In a rural county, notification can mean different things. Neighbors might live miles apart. The sheriff still follows the law and notifies those within range. You can sign up for email alerts on OffenderWatch to get messages when an offender moves into your area.

For questions about specific offenders, call (251) 847-2202. Staff can share what info is public. In a small county, the sheriff's office often has more direct knowledge of local offenders than larger departments.

Report a Violation in Washington County

If you think a sex offender in Washington County is breaking rules, report it. Common violations include wrong addresses, missed check-ins, and being near schools. Code of Alabama § 15-20A-37 makes these acts a Class C felony with one to ten years in prison.

Call (251) 847-2202 to report. Give the offender's name, the rule they broke, and any details you have. In a rural area, specific location info helps a lot. You can also file a tip through OffenderWatch or contact ALEA at 334-676-7250.

The sheriff does compliance checks, but covering 1,080 square miles with 30 deputies is hard. Public tips are extra important in Washington County. If you see something that does not match the registry, let the sheriff know.

Cities in Washington County

Washington County has a few small towns, but all sex offenders register with the county sheriff. Chatom is the county seat. Other communities include Millry, Wagarville, McIntosh, and Fruitdale.

No cities in Washington County exceed the population threshold for a separate page. All info is covered at the county level. Every offender in the county registers at the sheriff's office on Court Street in Chatom.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Washington County. If you live near the line, register in the county where you actually reside. Moving across a county border means you have three days to re-register.