Sierra County Sex Offender Registry
Sex offenders in Sierra County must register with the local sheriff office in Downieville. This rural county in the Sierra Nevada has a small population but still maintains all state-required registration procedures. Anyone convicted of crimes under Penal Code 290 reports to the sheriff within five working days of release or arrival in the area. The office keeps records on all registered individuals and submits updates to the California Department of Justice. You can search the public Megan's Law website to find offenders by address or name in Sierra County. Registration happens in person at the sheriff office. Annual birthday updates are required. Transients check in every 30 days.
Sierra County Quick Facts
Sheriff Registration Office
The Sierra County Sheriff handles sex offender registration for the entire county. The office is located in Downieville, the county seat. You must call ahead to confirm hours before visiting. Small rural offices may have limited staff availability. The sheriff office processes all registration paperwork and photographs each registrant.
When you register, bring valid photo ID and proof of your current address. This can be a utility bill, lease agreement, or any mail showing your name and Sierra County address. Vehicle owners should bring registration documents. The staff collects information about where you live and work. They also record internet identifiers like email addresses and social media accounts. The whole process takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
Once the sheriff completes your registration, the data goes to the state Department of Justice. The DOJ updates the public Megan's Law website daily. Your profile should appear within one business day if you are not excluded by law. Some offenders are excluded from public posting due to their tier level or the specific offense.
California Megan's Law Database
Search for Sierra County sex offenders at meganslaw.ca.gov. Enter any address in the county to see a map of registered offenders nearby. The map shows pins marking each registrant's location. Click a pin to view details including photo, physical description, and conviction information. Most profiles display full addresses. Some only show a zip code or are marked undisclosed.
The tier level appears on each profile. Tier One offenders register for ten years. Tier Two offenders register for twenty years. Tier Three offenders register for life. The tier determines how long registration lasts and whether the person can petition for removal after the minimum period. Tier Three is lifetime with no option to petition unless a pardon or similar relief is granted.
The database updates daily based on reports from the sheriff office. If someone just registered, their profile might not appear until the next day. Not all registered sex offenders are on the public site. Penal Code Section 290.46 lists categories of offenders excluded from internet disclosure. Contact the sheriff directly if you have questions about a specific individual.
Registration Requirements
Initial registration must occur within five working days of release from custody or arrival in Sierra County. Five working days means business days only. Weekends and holidays do not count. If you are released on Friday, you have until the following Friday to register. The sheriff does not provide extensions for weather or travel issues. Plan to register as soon as possible.
Annual updates are required on your birthday. Penal Code Section 290.012 requires updating within five working days before or after your birthday. If your birthday is August 5, you can register anytime from July 31 to August 10. You must track this date yourself. The sheriff does not send reminders. Missing the window is a violation that can lead to criminal charges.
Transients must update every 30 days. You are classified as transient if you lack a permanent residence. This includes living in a car, tent, or moving between temporary locations. The sheriff determines your transient status. If classified as transient, you report every 30 days and provide information about where you have been staying. This helps law enforcement track people who move around frequently.
Sexually violent predators update every 90 days regardless of housing status. This category includes individuals civilly committed as SVPs or those with certain convictions. The 90-day schedule is more frequent than the annual birthday update. All these timelines are set by state law and apply in Sierra County just like everywhere else in California.
Tier System and Duration
California uses a three-tier system effective January 2021 under Senate Bill 384. The tier is assigned at conviction based on the specific crime. Judges do not have discretion to change it. Penal Code Section 290 lists all registrable offenses and their corresponding tiers.
Tier One is ten years for adults and five years for juveniles. These are lower-level offenses like some forms of indecent exposure or misdemeanor sexual battery. Tier Two is twenty years for adults and ten years for juveniles. Mid-level offenses fall here. Tier Three is lifetime registration with no early termination. The most serious offenses including rape and lewd acts with children are Tier Three.
After completing the minimum period, Tier One and Tier Two offenders can petition the court for removal from the registry. The petition goes to the court that handled the original conviction. You may need a lawyer to help file the paperwork. The court has 60 days to decide. If approved, you stop registering and your profile is removed from the Megan's Law website. Tier Three offenders cannot petition unless they receive a pardon.
Note: No fees apply to sex offender registration in California.
State and Federal Resources
The California Department of Justice oversees the statewide sex offender registry. Visit oag.ca.gov/sex-offender-reg for forms and policy updates. You can download an Application for Exclusion from Internet Disclosure if you qualify. The DOJ processes these applications in 30 to 90 days or longer. The website also has statistics on total registrants statewide.
For inmates in state custody, use the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov. Search by name or CDCR number to find current location, admission date, and parole hearing dates. This helps you know when someone will be released and required to register in Sierra County or another location.
The National Sex Offender Public Website at nsopw.gov searches all state registries. Use it to check if someone has a registration history in another state before moving to California. The federal site is free and run by the U.S. Department of Justice. It combines data from all states, DC, and U.S. territories.
Legal aid may be available for registration questions or petitions. Contact the State Bar of California referral service or public defender office for guidance. Private attorneys also handle sex offender registry cases. Expect to pay for consultation and representation if you hire a lawyer.
Nearby Counties
For sex offender information in surrounding counties, see: