Illinois Sex Offender Records

What is a Sex Offender?

A sex offender is a person that the Illinois Courts have convicted of sex-related crimes. What constitutes a sex offense differs from one state to another as each state classifies and penalizes sex offenses in different ways. However, all states in the US reserve harsh penalties for sex offenses because they are considered offenses against the person. In most states, offenses against the person carry the harshest penalties. There are also federal laws that penalize sex offenses.

In Illinois, a sex offense conviction can have life-long consequences on the offender. Sex offenders face social stigma, career limitations, residential limitations, and financial limitations, to name a few. On conviction by an Illinois court, sex offenders must register in a public database or sex offender registry for long periods, and in some cases, for life.

Who is Considered a Sex Offender in Illinois?

Illinois defines a sex offender in 730 ILCS 150/2 as a person who has been charged with a sex offense or an attempt to commit a sex offense under Illinois laws, federal laws, Uniform Code of Military Justice, other state laws, and the laws of other countries. Illinois also considers a persona sex offender if the person is:

Declared sexually dangerous under the Illinois Sexually Dangerous Persons Act or other similar federal, sister state, and foreign country laws
Declared sexually violent according to the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act or similar federal, sister state, or foreign country laws.
Adjudicated juvenile for a sex offense

Illinois sex offenders also include persons whom the courts find not guilty of sex offenses because of insanity and subjects of hearings that do not result in acquittal. Examples of sex offenses in Illinois include:

Criminal sexual assault
Child pornography
Grooming
Incest
Child exploitation
Juvenile pimping
Public indecency
Indecent solicitation
Custodial sexual misconduct
Traveling to meet a minor
Ritualized child abuse
Patronizing juvenile prostitutes
Sexual misconduct with persons with disabilities

Sex offenses in Illinois also include sexually motivated acts such as kidnapping, unlawful detention, and murder. The state penalizes sex offenders with imprisonment, with sentences ranging from four (4) years to life.

What are the Different Types of Sex Offenses in Illinois?

There are various types of sex offenses in Illinois. 720 ILCS 5/Art. 11 of the 2012 Criminal Code lists and defines what constitutes sex offenses in Illinois. Below are some of the significant sex offenses.

Criminal sexual assault: this is the act of sexual penetration that involves the use of force, the threat of force, or a victim’s inability to give knowing consent. A person is also guilty of criminal sexual assault if the victim is a minor and the perpetrator is a member of the victim’s family. If the victim is at least 13 years old but not up to 18 years old, and the perpetrator is older than 17 but holds a position of supervision, trust, or authority to the victim, the perpetrator has committed criminal sexual assault, which is a Class 1 felony in Illinois. A Class 1 felony is punishable by at least four (4) years and at most 15 years in prison (730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-30).

Criminal sexual assault can be a Class X felony if:

The accused has had a prior criminal sexual assault conviction
The accused has had a previous conviction for the exploitation of a child
The accused has a second criminal sexual assault conviction where the victim is a minor and the accused is the victim’s family member
The accused has a second criminal sexual assault conviction where the victim is at least 13 years old but younger than 18 - and the accused is an adult who holds a position of authority or trust about the victim.

The penalty for Class X felony criminal sexual assault is incarceration for 30 to 60 years. If the perpetrator is a minor at the time of the offense, the court applies Illinois’ Under the Age of 18 sentencing guidelines. Criminal sexual assault can result in life imprisonment under the following conditions:

The accused has had a prior aggravated criminal sexual assault conviction
The accused has once been convicted of predatory criminal assault of a child
The accused is a repeated criminal sexual assault convict

Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault: in Illinois, aggravated criminal sexual assault is the commission of criminal sexual assault that involves aggravating circumstances. Examples of aggravating circumstances include:

When the perpetrator uses, displays, or threatens to use a dangerous weapon or any other material the victim believes to be a dangerous weapon
When the perpetrator causes bodily harm to the victim
When the perpetrator threatens or endangers the victim’s life
When the victim is at least 60 years old
When the victim has a physical disability
When the perpetrator administers a controlled substance to the victim without the victim’s consent
When the perpetrator carries a firearm
When the perpetrator discharges a firearm in the process of committing the offense
When the firearm discharge causes the victim’s death, serious bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement

Additionally, a person commits aggravated criminal sexual assault if the person commits sexual penetration with:

A victim is less than nine (9) years old when the perpetrator is less than 17
A victim between nine (9) and 13 years old, and the act involves the use of force or the threat of force
A person with a severe disability

Aggravated criminal sexual assault is a Class X felony. Illinois penalizes aggravated criminal sexual assault with incarceration for ten (10) years to life, depending on the circumstances surrounding the offense.

Prostitution: If a person willingly performs, agrees, or offers to perform a sexual act involving penetration in exchange for anything of value, the person has committed prostitution. 720 ILCS 5/11-14 also defines prostitution as touching another person for the purpose of sexual arousal in exchange for anything of value. Prostitution is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois, punishable by up to 364 days in jail.

Obscenity: as provided by 720 ILCS 5/11-20, a person commits obscenity if, knowing the nature of the content, the person willingly sells, offers, delivers, or agrees to sell obscene content. State laws define obscene content as any material or performance that, upon the application of “contemporary adult community standards,” fulfills the following conditions:

Appeals to “prurient” interest
Depicts genital exhibition, perverted sexual acts, masturbation, or sexual acts in offensive ways
Lacks scientific, political, artistic, or literary value

A person may also be guilty of obscenity in the following circumstances:

If the person directs or presents an obscene play, performance, or dance
If the person participates in the obscene portion of a play, performance, or dance
If the person obscenely exhibits themselves for money or gain
If the person buys, creates, or owns obscene material with the intention to distribute the material
If the person advertises obscene material
If the person publishes obscene material

Obscenity is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois, punishable by up to 364 days in jail. A subsequent obscenity offense is a Class 4 felony, punishable by up to three (3) years in prison.

Child pornography: anyone who photographs, videotapes, or otherwise depicts a minor engaging in a sexual act commits child pornography. A person also commits child pornography if the person knowingly distributes any material that depicts a minor in a sexual act. Depending on the circumstances, child pornography could be a Class 1 felony or a Class X felony, with mandatory fines of $1,500 to $100,000.

Grooming: 720 ILCS 5/11-25 defines grooming as intentionally seducing, soliciting, or luring a minor through the internet or other forms of electronic transmission in order to commit a sex offense. A person also commits grooming if the person lures, seduces, or solicits the minor’s guardian for the purpose of committing a sex offense. In Illinois, grooming is punishable by incarceration for up to three (3) years as it is a Class 4 felony.

Adultery: when a person willingly has casual sexual intercourse with another person, who is married but not the former’s spouse, the person commits adultery. This is the case whether the perpetrator is married or unmarried. Per 720 ILCS 5/11-35, adultery is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one (1) year in jail.

Public indecency: persons aged 17 and above who perform sexual acts in public or expose their bodies with the intention to cause sexual arousal are guilty of public indecency. As provided by 720 ILCS 5/11-30, public indecency is a Class A misdemeanor. If the perpetrator is an adult and the person commits public indecency within 500 feet of a school when children are present, public indecency is a Class 4 felony. Third and subsequent public indecency violations are also Class 4 felony crimes. Illinois laws penalize Class A misdemeanors with incarceration for up to one (1) year, while Class 4 felony crimes attract prison terms of up to three (3) years.

Traveling to meet a child: this refers to the act of traveling any distance to commit a sex offense with a minor after luring the minor through the internet or any other electronic means. 720 ILCS 5/11-26 also defines traveling to meet a child as an attempt to travel or cause another person to attempt to travel to meet a minor for sexual purposes. Traveling to meet a child is a Class 3 felony, punishable by imprisonment for up to five (5) years.

Solicitation of a sexual act: if a person offers another person who is not the person’s spouse or partner any object, article, token, property, money, or any other item of value in exchange for an act of sexual penetration, touching, or fondling of the sexual organs, the person commits solicitation of a sexual act. Solicitation of a sexual act is a Class A misdemeanor. However, soliciting sexual acts from a minor or a person with a severe disability is a Class 4 felony.

Illinois has an extensive list of sex offenses, of which the above listed are only a few. Interested parties may consult the Illinois Criminal Code for more information on sex offenses and applicable penalties. Alternatively, interested parties may consult criminal attorneys for information on sex offenses and sentencing in Illinois.

What Types of Sex Offenders Exist in Illinois?

Illinois classifies sex offenses according to severity. The classifications determine the offender’s penalty and the restrictions the offender faces after conviction. In addition to severity, the courts also consider other factors in determining a sex offender’s category, including criminal history, propensity for repeated offenses, and risk to society. In place of a tier-based system, Illinois uses a four-level classification for sex offenses.

Criminal sex offenders: this category comprises non-violent and low-level sex offenses, and many Illinois sex offenders are in this category. State law requires offenders in this category to register for ten (10) years from the date of conviction or discharge from probation. Indecent exposure is an example of a criminal sex offense in Illinois.
Sexually dangerous: if the court finds that a person is at risk of recidivism, but the person suffers a mental disorder, the court may label such a person as sexually dangerous. Per the Sexually Dangerous Persons Act, persons who have suffered mental disorders for no less than one (1) year before a petition, who have tendencies to commit or have demonstrated a likelihood to commit sex offenses, child molestation, or sexual assault are sexually dangerous. In Illinois, sexually dangerous persons are held in Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) facilities until the court determines that the person is no longer a danger to society. Upon release, offenders in this category must register for life.
Sexually violent: persons that the court convicts of sexually violent crimes are sexually violent offenders. According to the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act, a sexually violent person is also a person that the courts find not guilty of a sexual offense because of insanity. Such persons are dangerous because they suffer from mental disorders that increase the likelihood of committing sexually violent acts. Examples of sexually violent acts include sexually motivated murder and criminal sexual assault. The court may place sexually violent offenders in Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) custody for treatment and care. If the court determines that a person is no longer sexually violent, the court may release the person from custody.
Sexual predators: Persons convicted of repeated sex offenses, especially registrable ones, are sexual predators. This category often includes sexually violent and sexually dangerous persons. Illinois law requires sexual predators to register annually for life. Examples of crimes for which a person may be adjudicated a sexual predator include juvenile pimping, child pornography, ritualized abuse, and keeping a place of juvenile prostitution.

Child sex offenders are minors or persons under 18 who are adjudicated delinquent for sex offenses.

How to Find a Sex Offender Near Me in Illinois

Anyone convicted of a sex offense in Illinois must register in the sex offender database. According to Illinois’ Sex Offender Community Notification Law, sex offender information must be made public to promote safety in society. Citizens or residents can find sex offenders by searching the National Sex Offender Database or Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry.

Illinois Department of Corrections has a Sex Offender Data Search page where interested parties may find information about sex offenders under mandatory supervised release, or parole supervision. These websites contain sex offenders’ names, addresses, and release dates. Interested parties may also contact local police departments like the Wheaton Police Department, and sheriff’s offices to find information about sex offenders in an area.

While public databases may have limited sex offender information, 730 ILCS 152/120 mandates county sheriffs, The Department of State Police, and the Chicago Police Department to provide more detailed information about sex offenders to certain persons and organizations including:

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Any persons likely to encounter a sex offender or sexual predator
Sex offense victims
Local child care facilities
Public school district boards or principals
Boards of higher institutions
Local libraries
Public libraries
Public housing agencies
Volunteer organizations that provide services to minors
Social service agencies

The information to be provided includes the sex offenders’:

Name
Address
Date of birth
Place of employment
School attended
Instant messaging identities
Email addresses
Chatroom identities
Other internet communication identities and URLs
Blogs or websites
Offense

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

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

Sex offender registration is a life-changing event. Apart from the social stigma associated with it, sex offender registration has far-reaching consequences that are sometimes lifelong. For example, sex offenders lose privacy rights as the state makes the offenders’ personal information available on public websites. Registration as a sex offender registration places stringent limits on where the offender can live, work, or visit. In Illinois, sex offenders may not live within a school zone or be present in a school building except the school board permits or the offender is a parent or guardian.

Sex offenders may not be or live within 100 feet of a school pick-up stop, 500 feet of public parks, playgrounds, or any other public buildings with minor occupants. Registered sex offenders may not work at, manage, volunteer at, or be otherwise associated with facilities or organizations that provide services exclusively to minors such as daycare centers and after-school programs. Sex offenders may not distribute candy to children on Halloween or wear Santa or Easter Bunny costumes

In Illinois, sex offenders may not operate certain kinds of vehicles, such as ice cream trucks and emergency vehicles, and rescue vehicles. Illinois laws prohibit sex offenders from communicating with minors through the internet or social media. Additionally, sex offenders may not use social media while under supervised release, probation, or parole.

Within three (3) days of sentencing or receiving registration notification, sex offenders must register and provide accurate information as required. As provided by 730 ILCS 150/3, sex offenders must register with the chief of police or sheriff county in any place where the offender lives, works or stays for more than three (3) days. Sex offenders who fail to register may be charged with a Class 3 felony, which is punishable by incarceration for two (2) to five (5) years. Similarly, violations of sex offender residence and work restrictions is a Class 4 Felony, punishable by incarceration for up to three (3) years.

What is the Illinois Sex Offender Registry?

The Illinois sex offender registry is a regularly updated online repository containing information about sex offenders residing in the state. It provides Illinois residents with information on sex offenders for public awareness. This information includes the sex offender’s name, basic descriptive features, the crime committed, and location. By Illinois Sex Offender Registration Act and the Sex Offender Community Notification Law, individuals that fall within the category of sex offenders under the law in Illinois must register with the local police department or sheriff’s office. Depending on the severity of the offense committed, a person may be required to register as a sex offender for ten years or for life.

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 Illinois Sex Offender Registry?

Under the Sex Offender Community Notification Law, the Illinois State Police is authorized to maintain the statewide sex offender registry. Local law enforcement agencies carry out registration and forward the information to the State Police. The State Police compiles the information and makes them available online for the public. The Illinois Department of Correction maintains the information of registered sex offenders under parole supervision or mandatory supervised release. To ensure the public gets access to accurate information, these departments update their respective registries regularly. However, because some of the information provided is self-reported, the information may be inaccurate. Also, because of problems with data transfer and processes, it is possible that the information provided by both departments may not match. Residents can obtain information from any of the registries and verify it with the local law enforcement agency where the sex offender lives.

In 2021, the Sex Offender Registry Unit of the Illinois State Police had registered over 32,556 in the state.

Who Can View the Illinois Sex Offender Registry?

The sex offender registry in Illinois can be searched and viewed by interested members of the public. It is provided to foster public access to sex offender information for awareness and precaution measures to be taken. Residents can get notifications on sex offenders in the state through the registry. However, residents are not to use the information to harass or intimidate sex offenders.

What are the Sex Offender Laws in Illinois?

There are a number of laws that affect sex offenders in Illinois. They include:

Sex Offender Registration Act

It defines who is a sex offender and the persons required to register and report. It also prescribes the period for registration and what is required for registration. In addition, it spells out the penalty for the default of the provisions of the Act.

Sex Offender Community Notification Law

This law provides for the establishment of the state’s sex offender registry and mandates the Illinois State Police to maintain this registry. It also provides for the dissemination of sex offender information to interested organizations and community notification of sex offenders. It also provides that local law enforcement agencies may provide the public with a special alert list to warn parents of sex offenders that may attempt to contact children during holidays.

Criminal Code

The Criminal Code provides for the various sex offenses in the state and the elements that will constitute the commission of the offense. It also prescribes the necessary penalties for committing such offenses.

Probation and Probation Officers Act

It provides for the duties and responsibilities of probation and parole officers in relation to sex offenders under probation or parole. One of the duties includes the verification of the sex offender’s address while on probation.

Unified Code of Corrections

This law spells out the conditions for parole, mandatory supervised release, aftercare release. It also provides the conditions for probation and conditional discharge. They include completing sex offender treatment, requiring an offender to wear an electronic monitoring device, prohibiting the use of social networking websites, restricting access to internet devices, and other conditions.

How Long Do Sex Offenders Have to Register in Illinois?

Illinois sex offenders must register in person with the law enforcement agency where they reside. Registration must be done annually for ten years. However, if the offender is a sexual predator, sexually dangerous, or sexually violent offender, registration will be done every 90 days for the rest of the offender’s life. Offenders convicted of first-degree murder are also required to register for life.

The registration must be done within three days of release from conviction. Where the location of the offender’s residence changes, the offender is required to register within three days with the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction. Where the offender resides within a city, registration is to be done with the city’s police department. For unincorporated areas, registration is to be done with the county’s sheriff’s office. Homeless offenders are to report to the police every week.

Where a sex offender is visiting the State of Illinois for more than three days, the sex offender must register with the local law enforcement jurisdiction where they plan on residing. Sex offenders that work or attend a higher institution of learning in Illinois must register with the local police department of the municipality of that institution.

If a person works or attends an institution of higher learning, he or she must register at the local police department for the municipality of that institution as well.

To register, sex offenders must disclose the following information:

Name
Current address
A recent photograph
Phone number(s)
Description of any distinguishing marks, such as tattoos, scars, etc.
DNA samples
Name, address, and phone number of current employer
List of schools attend
Social media handles (including email addresses, chat room names, and any other internet identities)
Blogs and websites where the offender uploads or contributes content
Signed copy of the terms or conditions of the offender’s release or parole
License plate information of all vehicles registered in the name of the offender, and
Details about the sex offense (where the incident occurred, age of the offender at the time of the incident, the victim’s age at the time of the incident)

Can a Sex Offender Live With Their Family in Illinois?

A sex offender can live with family members. However, the sex offender is to provide reasonable notice by telling family members or roommates about the nature of the offense and offender status.

There are other restrictions to sex offenders living with their families. For instance, a sex offender’s spouse may use the conviction to deny access to the sex offender’s children. This is because family courts consider any criminal conviction when making decisions that relate to children. They consider what is in the best interest of the child. Also, where a parent was convicted of a sex offense against a minor, such parent may lose rights to parenting time while on parole, probation, conditional discharge, or mandatory supervised release. This is until the offender complies with the terms and conditions that the court considers to be in the child’s best interest. This may include the completion of a treatment program.

Do Sex Offenders Have to Notify Neighbors in Illinois?

Sex offenders are not required to notify their neighbors of their status. They are mandated to register with the law enforcement authority in their place of residence. They must also inform the law enforcement authority where they move to a new address.

The Illinois State Police provides a list of all licensed daycare providers and schools to law enforcement agencies that registered sex offenders. These agencies then provide lists of sex offenders to all licensed child care facilities and schools in their respective jurisdictions.

A victim or the victim’s parent or legal guardian may ask for automatic notification of the change of residential address of the associated sex offender. This notification may be requested in writing from the Illinois State Police at:

Illinois State Police
Sex Offender Registration
801 South 7th Street
Suite 200 South
Springfield, IL 62703

Members of the general public may also do the same to get notifications about sex offenders within their neighborhood.

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

Sex offenders are not required to put a sign in their yard. However, sexual predators may be required to wear an electronic monitoring device for the period of their parole or mandatory supervised release. The device will be used to monitor and identify the location of the offender actively. The Department of Corrections will get alerts where the offender is within a prohibited area.

Also, the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement agencies are required to share information about offenders who fail to respond to address-verification duty or who abscond from registration requirements. It is a Class 3 felony to harbor a sexual predator or assist them in eluding registration requirements.

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

A sex offender in Illinois cannot live within 500 feet of any school attended by children under 18 years, a playground, or a child day care center. They cannot be present or loiter within 500 feet of any school or property of the school, including daycare facilities, or parks. This unless the offenders are there with their children. A sex offender may also attend a school conference for the permission given by the superintendent or school board.

There is, however, no restrictions preventing a sex offender from living with children. But a sex offender must report to the local police department when moving into a residence with a child under 18 years that is not the sex offender’s child.

Can You Expunge a Sex Offender Charge in Illinois?

Sex offenders tried and convicted as a minor may submit a petition to the court to remove their name from the registry. This does not apply to minors tried as adults. Adult sex offenders cannot submit petitions, except there was a wrongful conviction. Offenders filing petitions must prove that they no longer pose a risk to the community.

How to Look Up Sex Offenders in Illinois?

To look up sex offenders in Illinois, use the Illinois sex offender registry. It is a database for sex offender information maintained by the Illinois State Police accessible to the general public. It can be searched by filling out the offender’s name, city, zip code, county, state, status, or offender type. The search contains information like the sex offender’s name, address, city, state, zip code, residence county, height, weight, race, gender, date of birth, status, classification, conviction county/state, age of the victim, age of the offender, time of the offense, and crime. Users can download the result of the search or download the information of all registered sex offenders in the state. It also allows users to search the information on missing sex offenders.

The Illinois registered sex offender mapping allows citizens to identify sex offenders in Illinois using a map. It also allows search for sex offenders within one to ten miles around private or public schools.

The Illinois Department of Corrections also maintains a record of sex offenders under parole supervision or mandatory supervised release who live in any city or county in Illinois. This is also available to the public through the Illinois Department of Corrections Sex Offender Information portal. It can be searched by county, city, and zip code. It also allows users to search by release date. The search information provided can be sorted by name, IDOC number, city, zip code, or release date.

Is Public Urination a Sex Offense in Illinois?

Public urination is not considered a sex offense in Illinois unless it is done with the intention to arouse or to satisfy the sexual desire. Lack of sexual motive is a strong defense for persons charged with conduct for public urination. Also, certain cities in the state have ordinances that prohibit and punish public urination.

What is Indecent Exposure in Illinois?

Indecent exposure is a type of public indecency. According to 720 ILCS 5/11-30(b), it is a lewd exposure of the body done with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desire of the person. It is a Class A misdemeanor that is punishable with up to one-year imprisonment. A third or subsequent conviction is a Class 4 felony. Where indecent exposure is done within 500 feet of an elementary or secondary school when children are present on the school ground, it is a Class 4 felony. A Class 4 felony is punishable with one to three years imprisonment and a $2,500 fine.

How to Report a Sex Offender in Illinois?

Residents may report a sex offender by contacting their local law enforcement agency or the Sex Offender Unit of the Illinois State Police by calling (217) 785-0653. They can also write to:

801 South 7th Street
Suite 200 South
Springfield, IL 62703

Residents can also contact the Attorney General’s Illinois Sex Offender Registry Team by calling (888) 414-7678. The offender is under the Illinois Department of Corrections’ jurisdiction, contact the Victim Services Unit through (877) 776-0755 or (217) 558-2200, extension 4006.

Any sex offender that violates the Sex Offender Registration Act is guilty of a Class 3 felony, which is punishable by two to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. A second or subsequent conviction is a Class 2 felony, which is punishable by three to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. For failure to comply with the Act, there is a mandatory minimum fine of $500. Along with any other penalty required by law, the offender must serve a minimum of seven days confined in local county jail.