Find Sex Offenders in Riverside
Registered sex offenders in Riverside must check in with the Riverside Police Department. The city has more than 314,000 people and serves as the county seat of Riverside County. Anyone who must register under California law and lives in Riverside goes to the police station at 4102 Orange Street. They register within five working days of release or moving to the city. Updates happen once per year on the offender's birthday. The police department handles all PC 290 registration for city residents. You can look up offenders near your home using the California Megan's Law website. The database shows photos, addresses, and crime details for every person registered in Riverside. Some offenders post full addresses while others show only a zip code.
Riverside Registration Facts
Riverside Police Registration Office
Sex offender registration in Riverside happens at the Riverside Police Department on Orange Street. The department runs a dedicated registration unit that processes all PC 290 offenders. Walk-ins are accepted during business hours. Some cases may need an appointment. Call ahead to check. Officers take a new photo each time you register. They verify your address, job info, vehicle details, and any internet identifiers you use. The police then send this data to the California Department of Justice, which updates the public Megan's Law database.
| Agency | Riverside Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 4102 Orange Street Riverside, CA 92501 |
| Phone | (951) 354-2007 |
| Hours | Contact for current registration hours |
| Website | riversideca.gov/rpd |
The Riverside Police Department investigations FAQ covers common questions about registration. The site explains what you need to bring, how often you must update, and what happens if you move. Riverside PD works closely with the Riverside County Sheriff on registration issues. If you live in an unincorporated area near Riverside, you register with the sheriff instead of city police.
Search for Riverside Offenders Online
The main way to find sex offenders in Riverside is through the state Megan's Law website at meganslaw.ca.gov. Enter your Riverside address or zip code to see a map of registered offenders nearby. Each pin on the map links to a profile with the person's photo, age, height, weight, hair color, eye color, and details about the crime that led to registration. You can filter results by distance from your home or by specific offense types.
Not every offender shows a full street address on the public site. Some display only a zip code. Others are marked as "location undisclosed" due to a court order. About 55,000 offenders statewide have full addresses posted. Another 6,000 show only zip codes. Even if the exact address is hidden, you can still see the person's photo and conviction info. The database updates daily based on reports from Riverside PD and other local agencies across California.
The California DOJ sex offender registry page has more info on how the system works. The DOJ receives registration data from every city and county in the state. They review each submission and post approved records to the public website within 24 hours. This keeps the Riverside offender database current. You can set up email alerts to get notified if an offender moves into your area or changes their info.
The National Sex Offender Public Website is another tool you can use. This federal database searches all 50 states at once. It helps if you want to check someone's history before they moved to Riverside. The national site may lag behind state databases, so use the California Megan's Law site for the most up-to-date info on Riverside offenders.
PC 290 Registration in Riverside
California law requires anyone convicted of certain sex offenses to register with local law enforcement. In Riverside, this means going to the police station on Orange Street. Registration must happen within five working days of release from custody or within five days of moving to the city. If you fail to register on time, you can be charged with a felony. The law applies to anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Riverside.
Penal Code Section 290 is the main law governing sex offender registration in California. It lists all the crimes that trigger a registration requirement. These include rape, lewd acts with a minor, sexual battery, indecent exposure, and possession of child pornography. The statute also covers attempts and conspiracies to commit these crimes. Riverside residents convicted of any registrable offense must follow the procedures set out in this law.
The tier system divides offenders into three groups based on the severity of their crime. Tier One offenders register for ten years. Tier Two offenders register for twenty years. Tier Three offenders register for life. The tier is assigned when you are convicted and determines how long you must register in Riverside. Some Tier One and Tier Two offenders can petition the court to end their registration after completing the minimum period. Tier Three offenders cannot petition for relief unless they receive a pardon or other legal remedy.
Most offenders in Riverside update their registration once per year. This happens within five working days before or after their birthday. The Riverside Police Department sends reminders, but it is your responsibility to show up on time. Some offenders update more often. Sexually violent predators register every 90 days. Transients with no fixed address register every 30 days. Missing an update is a crime and can result in arrest.
Note: California law prohibits charging fees for sex offender registration in Riverside or anywhere else in the state.
California Sex Offender Statutes
Penal Code Section 290.46 mandates that the DOJ publish sex offender information on the internet. This is the legal basis for the Megan's Law website. The law specifies what information can be shared with the public, including names, photos, addresses, and conviction details. It also lists categories of offenders who are excluded from the website. Some juveniles and certain low-level misdemeanor offenders do not appear on the public site even though they must register with Riverside PD.
Penal Code Section 290.012 sets the update schedule for registered offenders. Most update once per year within five working days of their birthday. SVPs update every 90 days. Transients update every 30 days. The statute says no entity can charge fees for registration. This applies in Riverside and across California. If anyone tries to charge you to register, report it to the Department of Justice.
Penal Code Section 290.45 allows law enforcement to disclose offender information to the public. Riverside PD can share an offender's name, physical description, photo, date of birth, verified address, vehicle info, and the crimes that led to registration. This information helps the community stay informed about offenders living nearby. But misusing the registry is illegal. Using the data to harass or harm an offender can result in fines up to $50,000 and five years in prison.
Senate Bill 384 created the three-tier system that went into effect in 2021. Before that, most offenders registered for life. The new system gives some offenders a path to end their registration after a set number of years. The Riverside County Sheriff SB 384 page explains how the tier system works and who can petition for relief. This resource is helpful for understanding how the law affects Riverside offenders.
Riverside Resources and Assistance
The Riverside Police Department handles all sex offender registration for city residents. Call (951) 354-2007 to reach the registration unit. For general police inquiries, visit riversideca.gov/rpd. The Riverside County Sheriff manages registration for unincorporated areas around the city. Call the sheriff at (951) 955-9324 or visit riversidesheriff.org for county-wide info.
Victims of sex crimes can get help from local agencies. The Riverside County District Attorney Victim Services Division offers support and can explain your rights. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Victim Services line is 1-877-256-6877. You can also email victimservices@cdcr.ca.gov. These services are free and confidential for Riverside residents.
If you have information about a registered offender in Riverside who is violating the law, contact Riverside PD at (951) 354-2007. You can also call the CDCR tip line or email CDCRDAPOTIPLINE@CDCR.CA.GOV. Reports are taken seriously and can lead to enforcement action. Registration violations often result in arrest and additional criminal charges.
The California Incarcerated Records and Information Search system lets you look up individuals in state custody. This helps you track someone who is still serving time before they are released and required to register in Riverside. You can search by name or CDCR number. The results show the person's admission date, current location, and parole hearing dates.
Riverside County Sex Offender Registry
Riverside is the county seat of Riverside County. The county sheriff manages sex offender registration for unincorporated areas and smaller cities that do not have their own police departments. For county-wide policies, registration locations, and enforcement information, visit the Riverside County page.