Tulare County Sex Offender Registration
Sex offenders in Tulare County register with the sheriff or local police departments based on where they live. The sheriff handles registration for unincorporated areas and some cities. The sheriff office is in Visalia. Anyone convicted under Penal Code 290 must register within five working days of release from custody or arrival in the county. The local agency takes photographs, 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 Tulare County address. The database shows photos, physical descriptions, and conviction details for offenders who are not excluded by law. 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.
Tulare County Quick Facts
Registration Locations
Tulare County uses a decentralized registration system. If you live in an unincorporated area, you register with the county sheriff in Visalia. If you live in a city with its own police department, you register there. Contact the agency serving your address for registration hours and procedures. Most offices require you to bring documents and complete the process in person.
When you register, bring valid photo ID and proof of address. This can be a utility bill, lease agreement, or mail showing your name and current Tulare 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. The local agency submits your data to the state.
After registration, the California Department of Justice updates the public Megan's Law website. 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 or the specific offense. Contact the local agency if you have questions about exclusion or the registration process.
Megan's Law Database
Search for Tulare County sex offenders at meganslaw.ca.gov. Enter any address in the county to see a map of registered individuals nearby. The map shows pins marking each registrant's location. Click on a pin to view the full profile including photo, physical description, and conviction details. Most profiles display full addresses. Some only show a zip code or are marked as undisclosed per court order.
Each profile lists 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 after the minimum period. 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 day. Not all registered sex offenders are on the public site. Penal Code Section 290.46 specifies which categories of offenders are excluded from internet disclosure. Contact the local agency 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 Tulare 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 October 30, you can register anytime from October 25 to November 4. You must track this date yourself. The agency does not send reminders. Missing the window is a violation that can lead to 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 but less burdensome than the 30-day transient requirement. All these timelines are set by state law and apply uniformly across California.
Tier System Overview
California uses a three-tier system that took effect in January 2021 under Senate Bill 384. Before that date, most sex offenders registered for life. The new system divides offenders into three tiers based on the severity of their crime. Penal Code Section 290 lists all registrable offenses and their corresponding tiers. The tier is assigned at conviction. Judges do not have discretion to change it.
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: 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, 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 Tulare 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.
Nearby Counties
For sex offender information in surrounding counties, see: