Many people who may be starting families or moving to a new area may wonder about the safety of the place that they've chosen to live. While no location is entirely perfect, some areas house most of the sex offenders in our area.
While some cases may be mild and others extreme, the fact of the matter is that these individuals may exist in your community. Who can move into your community, and where can they live? We'll try to answer that for you.
Schools and Playgrounds
According to Oklahoma Statute Title 57 (57 OK Stat § 57-590), " It is unlawful for any person registered pursuant to the Sex Offenders Registration Act to reside, either temporarily or permanently, within a two-thousand-foot radius of any public or private school site, educational institution, property or campsite used by an organization whose primary purpose is working with children, a playground or park that is established, operated or supported in whole or in part by the city, county, state, federal or tribal government, or licensed child care center as defined by the Department of Human Services."
This statute only applies to individuals attempting to live in an area. If a park or a daycare facility were to open in this area after the offender has established residency, a registered sex offender would NOT be required to vacate their premises or sell their property. Furthermore, if an offender is in the hospital or another state facility that is licensed or certified, they will not have to be relocated (57 OK Stat § 57-590 C).
The distance measured from the nearest property line to the organization that works mainly with children is the minimum distance required for a sex offender to take up residence. As far as residential neighbors are concerned, the same rules of space apply. They cannot move into an area without following the distance guidelines. Anyone who does this intentionally will be fined & be guilty of a felony following a conviction ((57 OK Stat § 57-590 D).
Offenders are REQUIRED to be registered with the Oklahoma Sex And Violent Crime Offender Registration if residing for longer than fourteen calendar days and filling out the proper paperwork along with DNA, photograph, & fingerprints to be filed. The address must also be submitted and verified to the department.
If you wonder if there are any registered sex offenders in your current or potential neighborhood, feel free to check the Oklahoma Sex & Violent Offender Registry to find out about individuals within your community.
