What Crimes Require Sex Offender Registration in Ohio? 

Under Ohio Revised Code § 2950.04, anyone convicted of or who pleads guilty to a sexual offense and is sentenced to imprisonment must register as a sex offender. In Ohio, there are three tiers of sex offenders. 

Tier III offenders must report in person to the sheriff’s office every three months to provide valid work and home addresses. Offenders in this category include those convicted of the following crimes: 

• Rape 
• Sexual battery 
• Murder or aggravated murder with sexual motivation 
• Kidnapping a minor with intent to engage in sexual acts 
• Felonious assault with sexual motivation 
• Any attempt or conspiracy to commit these offenses 
• Any sex offenses committed after the defendant is classified as a Tier II or III offender 

Tier II offenders must report in person to the sheriff every six months to provide an update on or confirm their work and home address; registration can last for up to 25 years. Offenses that can lead to a Tier II classification include the following: 

• Compelling prostitution 
• Pandering obscenity involving a minor 
• Pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor 
• Gross sexual imposition with a minor age 12 or younger 
• Child endangering 
• Kidnapping with a sexual motivation 
• Kidnapping a victim over age 18 
• Abduction with sexual motivation 
• Any attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the aforementioned offenses 
• Any sexual offense committed after the defendant has already been registered as a Tier I offender 

Tier I offenders must report in person every year to submit their current home and work address; this reporting requirement can last for up to 15 years. Offenses that lead to Tier I classification include the following: 

• Public indecency 
• Voyeurism 
• Sexual imposition 
• Gross sexual imposition 
• Child enticement with sexual motivation 
• Pandering obscenity 
• Unlawful restraint with sexual motivation 
• Menacing by stalking with sexual motivation
• Any attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the aforementioned offenses 

Ohio Revised Code § 2950.01 provides a complete list of offenses that fall into each tier. It is important to note that sex offenders in any tier cannot live within 1,000 feet of a school, preschool, or daycare facility. 

Tier III offenders are also subject to community notification when they register and relocate to a new address, and neighbors within a certain radius will be told of their arrival. While Tier I and II offenders are not subject to community notification, they, as well as Tier III offenders, are included in the sex offender registry database, which is searchable by the public. 

Butler County Courts: Where Will Your Case Be Heard? 

There are three courts in Butler County where your case may be heard. Their jurisdiction is as follows: 

• Area I court’s jurisdictions include Hanover, Milford, Oxford, Reiley, Morgan, and Wayne Townships. 
• Area II court’s jurisdiction includes all of Fairfield and Liberty Townships, the city of Monroe, and the portion of I-75 that runs through Liberty Township. 
• Area III court’s jurisdiction includes West Chester Township, the portion of I-75 that runs through West Chester Township, and a small portion of Sharonville.  

Our Ohio office is located in Cincinnati, just minutes from Interstate 71. We can reach any of the area courts in under an hour.