Sexual Offenders And Predators

The public may request information from local law enforcement agencies or FDLE regarding sex offenders and predators.  Law enforcement may release public information about registered offenders "in any manner deemed appropriate."  The FDLE Sex Offenders Search System provides an online capability to check the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for current information on registered Florida sexual offenders and predators living in our community.  You may request information statewide based on your zip code, city, or county.  Additionally, you may contact FDLE by telephone at 1-888-357-7332 with specific offender or predator questions.

You may also sign up for the Florida Offender Alert System.  This system will send an email when a registered Florida sexual offender or predator moves close to an address specified by you OR an offender or predator you have chosen to track has updated address information. 

The Tampa Police Department - Sexual Predator Identification and Notification (SPIN) Program is a comprehensive community policing (COP) initiative that proactively deals with the issue of registered sexual predators and offenders in our community.  The COP concept goes beyond the minimum requirements of Florida's Sexual Predator Act by empowering the officers working within communities to proactively monitor these individuals.  To accomplish this important public safety objective, patrol officers conduct random checks of the sexual offender or predator's residence.  Detailed reports are completed and forwarded to the TPD Criminal Tracking Unit for a compliance review.  Detectives will follow up on any potential issues of non-compliance and make arrests accordingly. 

TPD reconciles its offender and predator information with the FDLE offender database on a monthly basis to ensure accuracy, and to enhance public safety within the City of Tampa.  Additionally, the SPIN program provides education to community members, enabling them to utilize public information on sexual offenders and predators, with the purpose of enhancing your family's safety.

You may contact the Tampa Police Department's SPIN Program for more detailed information about how to stay informed about sexual offenders and predators  in your area.

The Tampa Police Department utilizes the A Child is Missing Alert notification system to inform residents within a designated area that a sexual predator has moved into their area.  The message is sent for informational purposes only.  There is no need to contact the police department upon receipt of this type of community alert.  Any specific concerns or questions may be emailed to the TPD Criminal Tracking Unit.

Florida's Sexual Predator's Act

The Florida Sexual Predator Act states that all Sexual Predators, who committed their offense on or after October 1, 1997, are subject to mandatory community notification and registration requirements.  The legislation also states that sexual offenders released from prison or Department of Corrections sanctions on or after October 1, 1997, are subject to community notification at the discretion of the Chief or Sheriff of a jurisdiction.  In this way, the legislature allowed for local agencies to address individual public safety concerns regarding sex offenders on a case by case basis.

Additionally, both sexual predators and offenders must register with the state or local Sheriff, and the Florida Department of Safety & Motor Vehicles within 48 hours of release from prison or any subsequent move.

Sexual Predators

Sexual Predators are designated by judicial order, based upon criteria, to include the severity of the offense and/or multiple convictions of certain offenses, on or after 10/1/93.  These include:

• Capital, Life, or First degree felony violations of Florida State Statute 794 (Sexual Battery) or an attempt to commit such a violation if the victim is a minor.
• Selling, buying of minors for visual depiction in sexually explicit material.
• Kidnapping or false imprisonment of a minor, where the defendant is not the victim's parent.

Sexual Offenders

Sexual Offenders are individuals convicted of committing, attempting, conspiring, or soliciting to commit any violation of Florida State Statute  Chapter 794, any above listed offenses without the judicial order of predator, or any of the following offenses involving a child, who have been released from sanctions on or after 10/1/97:

• Luring or enticing a child under 12.
• Sexual performance by a child less than 18.
• Lewd or lascivious act in the presence of a child under 16.
• Procuring person under 18 for prostitution.
• Computer pornography involving a child.