Sonoma County Sex Registrants
Registered sex offenders in Sonoma County report to the sheriff or local police departments depending on where they live. The sheriff office in Santa Rosa handles registration for unincorporated areas. Cities like Santa Rosa have their own police departments that process registrations. Anyone subject to Penal Code 290 must register within five working days of release from custody or arrival in the county. The local agency photographs each registrant, collects personal information, and submits data to the California Department of Justice. You can search California's Megan's Law website for registered sex offenders by entering any Sonoma County address. Annual updates happen on each person's birthday. Transients update every 30 days. Sexually violent predators update every 90 days. No fees apply to registration in California.
Sonoma County Quick Facts
Registration Offices
Sonoma County uses a decentralized system for sex offender registration. If you live in an unincorporated area, you register with the county sheriff at 707-565-2121. If you live in Santa Rosa or another incorporated city, you register with the local police department. Contact the agency serving your address for registration hours and procedures.
When you register, bring valid photo identification and proof of address. Acceptable proof includes a utility bill, lease agreement, or mail showing your name and current Sonoma County address. Vehicle owners should bring registration documents. Staff will photograph you, collect fingerprints, and gather information about where you live and work. You must also disclose internet identifiers like email addresses and social media accounts. The process takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
After you complete registration, the local agency submits your data to the California 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 based on their tier level or the specific offense. The Sonoma County Sheriff maintains sex registrant information on their website.
Megan's Law Search
You can search for Sonoma County sex offenders at meganslaw.ca.gov. Enter any address in the county to see a map of registered individuals nearby. The map uses pins to mark each registrant's location. Click on a pin to view the full profile. Most profiles include a photo, physical description, and details about the conviction.
Each profile shows the tier level. Tier One offenders register for ten years. Tier Two offenders register for twenty years. Tier Three offenders register for life. The tier determines registration duration and whether the person can petition for removal. Tier Three is lifetime with no option to petition unless a pardon is granted.
The database updates daily based on reports from local agencies across the county. If someone just registered, their profile might not appear until the next business 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 local agency if you have questions about a specific individual.
Registration Timelines
Initial registration must occur within five working days of release from custody or arrival in Sonoma County. Five working days means business days only. Weekends and holidays do not count. If released on Friday, you have until the following Friday to register. The local agency does not grant extensions. 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 September 15, you can register anytime from September 10 to September 20. You must track this date yourself. The agency does not send reminders. Missing the window is a violation that can result in criminal charges.
Transients update every 30 days. You are classified as transient if you lack a permanent residence. This includes living in a vehicle, staying in a shelter, or moving between temporary locations. The local agency determines your transient status. If classified as transient, you must update every 30 days and report 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 uniformly across California.
Tier System Details
California uses a three-tier system that took effect in January 2021 under Senate Bill 384. The tier is assigned at conviction based on the specific crime. Penal Code Section 290 lists all registrable offenses and their corresponding tiers. Judges do not have discretion to change the tier.
Tier One is ten years for adults and five years for juveniles. Lower-level offenses like some forms of indecent exposure fall into this tier. Tier Two is twenty years for adults and ten years for juveniles. Mid-level offenses are assigned to Tier Two. Tier Three is lifetime registration with no early termination. The most serious offenses including rape under Penal Code Section 261 and lewd acts with children under Penal Code Section 288 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 legal help to file the proper paperwork. The court has 60 days to decide. If approved, you stop registering and your profile is removed from the public website. Tier Three offenders cannot petition unless they obtain a pardon or similar legal remedy.
Note: California law prohibits charging fees for sex offender registration.
State and Federal Resources
The California Department of Justice oversees the statewide sex offender registry. Visit oag.ca.gov/sex-offender-reg for forms, FAQs, 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 publishes 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 Sonoma 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 50 states, Washington DC, and U.S. territories.
Legal aid may be available for registration questions or petitions. Contact the State Bar of California referral service or local public defender office for guidance. Private attorneys also handle sex offender registry cases. Expect to pay for a consultation and representation if you hire a lawyer.
Cities in Sonoma County
Sonoma County includes this city with a population over 100,000:
The city has its own police department that handles sex offender registration. Contact the agency for hours and procedures.
Nearby Counties
For sex offender information in surrounding counties, see: