Missouri Sex Offender Records

What is a Sex Offender?

Legally, a sex offender is a person that the court finds guilty or convicts of sex-related crimes. States in the US have variations in their definitions of sex crimes. Similarly, federal laws define and penalize sex crimes in various ways. Regardless of the variations in definitions, classifications, and penalties, sex crimes or sex-related offenses are considered serious offenses and threats to societal safety and are penalized as such.

Apart from fines and prison terms, sex offenses result in other consequences and penalties, including sex offender registration, which could lead to restrictions in where the offender may reside or work. Sex offender registration could also result in a loss of privacy; law enforcement agencies make offenders’ information publicly available as required by law. In Missouri, sex offender registration lasts for at least 15 years.

Who is Considered a Sex Offender in Missouri?

Missouri considers any person convicted of a sex-related crime a sex offender. According to MO Rev Stat § 589.400, sex offenders also include anyone that the courts’ convict of attempts or conspiracy to commit sex-related crimes. In assessing sentences and penalties, the court considers the offender’s criminal history and the severity of the offense. Examples of sex offenses that could result in conviction and registration include:

Aggravated sexual abuse
Sexual exploitation of a minor
Promoting prostitution
Felonious restraint or kidnapping
Child pornography
Public display of sexual material
Sodomy
Rape
Sexual trafficking of a child
Sexual conduct with a vulnerable person

What are the Different Types of Sex Offenses in Missouri?

Missouri state laws offer an extensive list of sex offenses. Some are classified as sex offenses in MO Rev Stat § 566, while others are captured in other parts of the state’s revised statutes. Sex offenses in Missouri include the following:

Rape: this offense has varying degrees of severity, as highlighted in the state laws. Rape classification depends majorly on the victim’s age. The penalty depends on additional factors such as consent and the offender’s criminal history.

First-degree rape: MO Rev Stat § 566.030 defines rape in the first degree as the act of forcible sexual intercourse or sexual intercourse with a person who cannot give consent. This includes the administration of any substance that renders the victim unable to consent due to physical or mental impairment. Rape is a felony in Missouri; persons found guilty of rape are penalized with imprisonment for at least five (5) years to life except in the following instances:
- The victim is less than 12 years old; in this case, the penalty for rape is imprisonment for life with parole or probation eligibility after 30 years. However, the offender may be eligible for parole or probation earlier if the offender is at least 75 years old and has served 15 years out of the offender’s sentence. If the offense involves depravity of mind or torture, and the victim received vile or inhumane treatment, the penalty is imprisonment for life without eligibility for parole, probation, or conditional release.
- The offender is subject to an extended prison term as a predatory sexual offender. A predatory or persistent sexual offender is a person who has been previously convicted of a violent sexual offense such as rape and sodomy.
- The offender commits aggravated rape, in which case the minimum prison term is at least 15 years.
Second-degree rape: according to MO Rev Stat § 566.031, an individual commits rape in the 2nd-degree if the individual has sexual intercourse with a victim without the victim’s consent. Second-degree rape is a Class D felony in Missouri, punishable by prison terms of up to seven (7) years.
First-degree statutory rape: is the act of sexual intercourse with a minor less than 14 years old. First-degree statutory rape is a first-degree felony, punishable by imprisonment for at least five (5) years, except the offender is a persistent sexual offender, or the offense is aggravated. An aggravated offense involves:
- A threatening display of a dangerous weapon by the perpetrator
- Serious physical injury to the victim
- Forcible intercourse with more than one person
- Incest
- Repeated sexual offenses

Per MO Rev Stat § 566.032, if it is an aggravated offense or the victim is less than 12 years of age, the penalty is imprisonment for life or at least ten (10) years. If the offender is a persistent or predatory sexual offender, the offender is subject to imprisonment for life without probation or parole.

Second-degree statutory rape: suppose an individual of 21 years or more has sexual intercourse with a minor less than 17 years old. The individual is liable for committing statutory rape in the second degree (MO Rev Stat § 566.034). Statutory rape is a Class D felony, penalized with imprisonment for up to seven (7) years.

Sex with an animal: a person commits sex with an animal if the person engages in any sexual conduct with an animal, including touching the animal’s genitals or anus or touching an animal with the person’s genitals to gratify sexual desire. In Missouri, sex with an animal is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one (1) year in jail. However, if the offender has an earlier conviction for sex with an animal, the new offense becomes a Class E felony, punishable by up to four (4) years in prison. The court may include additional sanctions in the offender’s sentence, such as:

Counseling or a psychological evaluation at the offender’s expense
Forfeiture of all animals in the offender’s possession
Prohibiting the offender from having animals or living in any house with animals

Enticement of a Child: if a person who is at least 21 years old, whether by actions, words, or electronic communication, lures, persuades, solicits, or entices a person less than 15 years old for sexual conduct, the person commits enticement of a child. Any commission or attempt to commit enticement of a child is a felony, penalized by imprisonment for five (5) to 30 years. Such offenders are not eligible for conditional release, sentence execution, probation, parole, or sentence suspension for at least five (5) years (MO Rev Stat § 566.151).

Sodomy: like rape, sodomy is a multi-tiered offense in Missouri. Classification and penalties depend on the use of force and the victim’s age.

First-degree sodomy: the act of deviate sexual intercourse involving the use of force with an incapacitated person or a person incapable of consent is first-degree sodomy. It also includes the administration of a substance that renders the victim incapable of consent by the perpetrator. According to MO Rev Stat § 566.010, deviate sexual intercourse involves a person’s hands, tongue, or mouth and another person’s anus. It also includes genital penetration with a finger or an instrument to terrorize the victim or gratify sexual desires.

Attempts to commit or the commission of first-degree sodomy is a felony, punishable by imprisonment for five (5) years to life. However, the penalty may be different under the following circumstances:

It is an aggravated offense, in which case the penalty is imprisonment for ten (10) years to life.
The offender is a predatory or persistent sexual offender
The victim is not up to 12 years old, in which case the penalty is imprisonment for life. The offender is only eligible for parole after serving 30 years of the sentence. If the offender is at least 75 years old, the offender is eligible for parole after 15 years
The victim is not up to 12 years old, and the act was outrageously horrible or involved torture

Second-degree sodomy: this refers to an act of deviant sexual intercourse with another person without the person’s consent. It is a Class D felony, punishable by imprisonment for up to seven (7) years (MO Rev Stat § 566.061).

First-degree statutory sodomy: deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than 14 years old is first-degree statutory sodomy. It is punishable by imprisonment for five (5) years to life. If the victim is not up to 12 years old or the offense is aggravated, the minimum sentence is ten (10) years imprisonment (MO Rev Stat § 566.062).

Second-degree statutory sodomy: if an individual who is at least 21 years old has deviant sexual intercourse with a person who is not up to 17 years old, it is second-degree statutory sodomy. This offense is a Class D felony in Missouri (MO Rev Stat § 566.064).

The above-listed are only a few of Missouri’s sex offenses. For a better understanding of sex offenses and sentencing in Missouri, interested parties may contact criminal defense attorneys in the state.

What Types of Sex Offenders Exist in Missouri?

Missouri categorizes sex offenders into three tiers depending on the severity of their crime. The classification determines the offender’s registration requirements and the type of relief available to the offender.

Tier 1 sex offenders: in this category, offenders must register for at least 15 years. Suppose the sex maniac does not commit another offense for at least ten (10) years, the court may reduce the offender’s registration period by five (5) years. According to MO Rev Stat § 589.414, some offenses in this category include:

Third-degree kidnapping
Sex with an animal
Possession of child pornography
Sexual conduct involving a minor
Second-degree sexual misconduct.

Tier 2 sex offenders: registration period for offenders in this category is at least 25 years. Per MO Rev Stat § 589.414, offenses in this category include:

Third-degree child molestation
Patronizing prostitution
Sexual exploitation of a minor
Promoting child pornography
Second-degree statutory sodomy

Tier 3 sex offenders: this tier is reserved for repeat sex offenders, violent sex offenders, and persons who commit certain sex-related offenses involving children. Offenders in this category must register for life. However, if the Tier 3 offender is adjudicated juvenile, the court may reduce the sentence if the perpetrator maintains a clean record for at least 25 years. The court may reduce the sentence by the number of years the offender has kept a clean record.

How to Find a Sex Offender Near Me in Missouri

As provided by MO Rev Stat § 589.400 - 589.425, the Missouri State Highway Patrol maintains a public database of sex offenders in the state. Interested parties may search sex offenders in specific locations on the Missouri Public Sex Offender website. Additionally, each county in the state maintains sex offender registries. Therefore requesting parties can find sex offender information by contacting the sheriff or chief law enforcement officer in the sex offender’s county of residence.

Interested parties may sign up for email notifications via the sex registry. The Missouri State Highway Patrol offers notification by address or by the offender. Notification by address allows users to register up to five (5) addresses for tracking. If a sex offender registers any address near the user’s location, the user receives a notification. The notification by offender works similarly; the only difference is the notification criteria. With notification by the offender, users receive notifications whenever a particular offender registers a new school, work, or residential address. The notification system allows users to track five (5) sex offenders.

Requesting parties must note that the sex offender registry does not contain offenders’ complete criminal history. Additionally, the registry may not list information about persons convicted of child abuse, kidnapping, and felonious restraint.

What Happens When You Register as a Sex Offender in Missouri?

Missouri laws place certain restrictions on sex offenders in the state, including limitations on where the offender may work or live. According to MO Rev Stat § 566.147, persons convicted of incest, child endangerment, or other sex offenses against children may not live within 1,000 feet of any childcare facility, private or public school up to the 12th grade. If the offender established residence in the area before the school, the offender must inform the county sheriff within one (1) week of the school or facility’s opening.

Sex offenders may not loiter within 500 feet of a school when a minor (a person younger than 18) is present. The school board, principal, or superintendent must grant permission. Public parks, playgrounds, facilities with public swimming pools are also prohibited to sex offenders in Missouri. Any violation of this restriction is a Class A misdemeanor (MO Rev Stat § 566.149)

Some sex offenders in Missouri cannot take jobs such as coaching, training, or managing a sports team with members younger than 17. A violation of this restriction is a Class E felony, and a subsequent violation is a Class D felony (MO Rev Stat § 566.155)

Additionally, sex offenders may not have any contact with children during Halloween. Offenders must post a sign indicating that there are no treats at the offender’s residence. Sex offenders must also turn off all lights in the evening and remain indoors from 5 pm to 10:30 pm (MO Rev Stat § 589.462). Violations of sex offender restrictions are considered serious offenses that can result in additional penalties for the sex offender.

What is the Missouri Sex Offender Registry?

The Missouri sex offender registry is a public database that provides statewide information on sex offenders. According to the Revised Statutes of Missouri (section 589.407), sex offenders are required to register with the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP). Members of the public may access the information available in the registry online or offline. Examples of sex offender information available in the registry include offender names and aliases, date of birth, physical description, gender, addresses, offense information, risk levels, photographs, and more.

Interested members of the public may also obtain public record information from third party websites. These privately owned sites typically host data culled from public databases and repositories. However, the information available on third-party sites may vary since they are independent of government sources. To use a third-party site, record seekers may be required to provide all of some of the following information:

The full name on the record of choice
The last known or current address of the named individual
The address of the requestor

Who Runs the Missouri Sex Offender Registry?

The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) runs the state's sex offender registry by compiling recorded information of convicted persons across its various counties. The MSHP collaborates with the Chief Law Enforcement Official (Sheriff) of different counties to update the sex offender information in the registry regularly. Therefore, sex offenders are required to provide up-to-date information with the MSHP or relevant Sheriff's offices.

Who Can View the Missouri Sex Offender Registry?

The Missouri sex offender registry is available to any interested member of the public. Interested persons may search the sex offender's registry to obtain information on convicted persons. However, the information provided in the registry does not include social security numbers, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, employer's information, or other sensitive details.

What are the Sex Offender Laws in Missouri?

Missouri has several sex laws, which govern the registration, tracking, and proximity of sex offenders as well as the penalties for sex offenses. The sex offender laws in Missouri include:

Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act
Megan’s Law
Pam Lychner Sexual Offender Tracking Law
Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act
Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act

Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act

The Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act, also known as Wetterling Act, is a US federal law that requires all states to create and maintain a sex offender registry. The Act is named after Jacob Wetterling, a Minnesota eleven-year-old who was abducted by a stranger in 1989 and was missing for almost 27 years. He was later confirmed dead on September 1, 2016, when his remains were found. The Wetterling Act became effective on November 20, 1993, and was part of the Federal Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.

Megan’s Law

Megan’s Law is also a federal law that requires all states to make accessible sex offender information to the public. Like most states, Missouri maintains its version of Megan’s Law. The Missouri Sex Offender Registry is maintained by Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP). Megan’s Law is named after Megan Kanka, a seven-year-old who was abducted and murdered by a registered sex offender on July 29, 1994.

The law is an improvement to the Wetterling Act requesting that sex offender registries be made public. Members of the public who are 18 years or above may access information about sex offenders in Missouri as provided in the registry. Interested persons may also obtain sex offenders information at the MSHP office:

Physical Address:
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Sex Offender Registration Unit
1510 E Elm Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Toll-free 1-888-SOR-MSHP (767-6747)
Phone: (573) 526-6348
Fax: (573) 522-7668
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Monday through Friday.

Mailing Address:
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Sex Offender Registration Unit
P.O. Box 9500
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Pam Lychner Sexual Offender Tracking Law

The Pam Lychner Sexual Offender Tracking Law is another law that governs sex offenders in Missouri. The law allows law enforcement officials to track sex offenders across states. It also requires sex offenders to register for life depending on prior convictions and the severity of the offense committed.

Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act

The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act is a federal law that enables law enforcement agencies to track and monitor registered sex offenders who school, work, or volunteer on campus. Registered sex offenders are required to inform the chief law enforcement official in the county where the school is located.

Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, also known as Walsh Act, ensure all states maintain a national standard as regards sex offender registries. The Walsh Act enhances the monitoring, apprehension, registering, and tracking of sex offenders.

How Long Do Sex Offenders Have to Register in Missouri?

The registration requirement for sex offenders in Missouri varies from 15 years to lifelong registration. The registration length depends on the tier level in which a sex offender is classified. In Missouri, there are three classifications of sex offenders - tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3. Below is the number of years required for a sex offender in Missouri to register:

Tier 1 Sex Offender - 15 years registration
Tier 2 Sex Offender - 25 years registration
Tier 3 Sex Offender - Lifelong registration

Can a Sex Offender Live With Their Family in Missouri?

Yes, sex offenders in Missouri can live with their family members. There are no specific Missouri laws prohibiting sex offenders from staying together with family. However, a sex offender who is under probation or following a court order may be restricted from children due to the threat they pose. Such a convicted person is required to stay away from their family that includes children.

Do Sex Offenders Have to Notify Neighbors in Missouri?

Sex offenders living, schooling, or working in Missouri do not have to notify their neighbors of their sex offender status. However, such convicted persons are required by Missouri sex offender laws to register with the chief law enforcement official in the county they reside. They are also required to notify the chief law enforcement official if there is a change in their information within 3 business days. Examples of information that may require updating include:

Name
Residence
Employment status - including as a volunteer or intern
Student status

Registered sex offenders in Missouri who are not within the state must update their information with the chief law enforcement official in their current location if there is a change. The chief law enforcement official in the county or city is required to notify the Missouri State Highway Patrol within 3 business days. Examples of information that may require updating include:

Vehicle information
Temporary lodging information
Temporary residence information
Email addresses, or any form of internet or instant communication
Telephone or any form of electronic communication.

Additionally, all sex offenders in Missouri are required by Missouri sex offender law to register periodically with the law enforcement official in the county of residence. The registration requirements, however, depend on the offender’s tier level.

Do Sex Offenders Have to Put Up a Sign in Their Yard in Missouri?

No, sex offenders in Missouri do not have to put up a sign in their yard. However, sex offenders under parole or probation are to adhere to certain rules and regulations as provided by Missouri laws. For instance, a sex offender on parole or probation may be restricted from living within 1000 feet of a child-care facility or school. They may also be restricted from serving in positions that involve children less than 17 years of age.

How Close Can a Sex Offender Live to a School in Missouri?

The Revised Statutes of Missouri do not outrightly restrict registered sex offenders from living close to a school. However, there are restrictions placed on certain sex offenders as stated under sections 566.148, 566.149, 566.150, 566.155, and 589.426.

This section restricts certain sex offenders from loitering or being present within 500 feet of a child or real property with persons under the age of 18 present. However, such offenders are allowed if they are a parent, legal custodian, or custodian of the student or person within the property. Sex offenders in violation of this section will be charged with a class A misdemeanor.

Section 566.149

The section restricts certain sex offenders from loitering or being present within 500 feet of a school building, real property, or school conveyances unless they are a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a student present in the school building or conveyance and has also obtained permission from the school authorities. Sex offenders in violation of this section, regardless of their knowledge of the school activity or property’s proximity, will be charged with a class A misdemeanor.

Section 566.150

This section restricts certain sex offenders from loitering or being present within 500 feet of a public place such as a swimming pool, museum, or public park. The museum referred to in this section must be to entertain or educate persons under the age of 18 years. Sex offenders with the first violation of this section will be charged with a Class E felony, while a second or repeated violation is a class D felony.

Section 566.155

This section prohibits certain sex offenders from taking up roles such as athletic coaches, managers, or trainers that involve persons less than 17 years of age. Sex offenders with the first violation of this section will be charged with a Class E felony, while a second or repeated violation is a class D felony.

Section 589.426

The section restricts the activities of certain sex offenders every October 31st as regards Halloween celebrations. Such convicted persons are required to:

Avoid all Halloween-related contact with children
Remain in their residence between 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (except for just causes like medical emergencies, employment, etc.)
Post a sign at their residence with "No candy or treats at this residence" written
Leave all outdoor residential lighting off during the evening hours after 5:00 p.m.

Sex offenders in violation of this section will be charged with a class A misdemeanor

Can You Expunge a Sex Offender Charge in Missouri?

No, Missouri law does not allow the expungement of sex offender charges. Under section 610.140, a person is ineligible for expungement if an offense requires them to register as sex offenders. Other violations, infractions, and offenses that are ineligible for expungement may include but not limited to:

Any class A felony offense
Any 'dangerous felony' as defined in section 556.061
Any felony offense where death is an element of the offense;
Any felony offense of assault
Any misdemeanor or felony offense of domestic assault
Any felony offense of kidnapping

How to Look Up Sex Offenders in Missouri

The Missouri State Highway Patrol maintains an online public search registry of sex offenders in the state. The public search provides information on sex offenders recorded across different counties within Missouri. Sex offender information obtainable in the registry include offender names and aliases, physical description, offense details, gender, date of birth, and more. Residents can access the information using the offender search or map search options.

Using the offender search option, interested persons can obtain sex offender information using a specific name and location. Interested persons are required to provide the following details for better search results: last name, first name, date of birth, predator, tier level, address type, street name, city, county, state, and zip code.

Also, interested persons can access sex offender information in the registry using the map search option. Residents can use this option to find sex offenders within a known location. For instance, residents can search for sex offenders who live, work, or school nearby. Here, requestors are required to provide the following details: street number and name, city, state, zip code, and distance (in feet and miles).

Note: Interested persons can also obtain electronic accounts of registered sex offenders, such as email addresses or social network user ids, by contacting the chief law enforcement official in the residence county.

Interested members of the public may also obtain public record information from third-party websites. These privately owned sites typically host data culled from public databases and repositories. However, the information available on third-party sites may vary since they are independent of government sources. In order to use a third-party site, record seekers may be required to provide all or some of the following information:

The full name on the record of choice
The last known or current address of the named individual
The address of the requestor

Is Public Urination a Sex Offense in Missouri?

Under Missouri law, individuals who expose their genitals to others in public may be charged with indecent exposure. Indecent exposure is considered "sexual misconduct" and punishable under the law. Depending on the seriousness of the sexual misconduct, it can be classified under the following Revised Statutes of Missouri sections 566.093, 566.095, and 566.083.

Revised Statutes of Missouri, Section 566.093

Section 566.093 explains what is first-degree sexual misconduct and the penalties applicable to persons who commit such an offense. This involves when a person knowingly exposes their genitals to alarm other persons, have sexual contact in the presence of others, or have sex in a public place in presence of others.

First-degree sexual misconduct is classified as a class B misdemeanor and punishable for up to 6 months in jail and up to a $500 fine. If an individual with a prior conviction commits first-degree sexual misconduct, it is classified as a class A misdemeanor. This is punishable by up to 1 year in county jail and up to a $1000 fine.

Revised Statutes of Missouri, Section 566.095

Section 566.095 is second-degree sexual misconduct which involves an individual requesting sexual conduct from another person knowing it is likely to cause affront or alarm. Second-degree sexual misconduct is classified as a class C misdemeanor and punishable for up to 15 days in county jail and up to a $300 fine.

Revised Statutes of Missouri, Section 566.083

This sexual misconduct involves exposing one’s genitals to a child - under 15 years of age - to knowingly alarm them or for the sexual gratification of others. It is also coercing a child under 15 years to expose their genitals for the sexual gratification of others (or self) or coercing them to expose private areas through the internet or other electronic means.

Sexual misconduct involving a child is classified as a Class E felony and punishable for not more than four years in state prison, up to one year in jail, and up to a $10,000 fine. If an individual with a prior conviction commits this sexual misconduct, it is classified as a class D felony. This is punishable by up to 1 year in county jail, four years in state prison, and up to a $10,000 fine.

How to Report a Sex Offender in Missouri

Any members of the public who suspects a sex offender or another person poses a threat to a child or other people may contact the local police department or chief law enforcement official in the residence county. Concerned persons can also contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol charged with the registration and punishment of sex offenders in violation of their registration requirement. All reports should be made to the office location at:

Mailing Address:
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Sex Offender Registration Unit
P.O. Box 9500
Jefferson City, MO 65102