I just found out there is a sex offender living right next door, is that allowed?

We recently got an email from a young person who asked an important question and we thought it would be helpful to share our response with others who might be wondering about something similar.

"I’m 16 and my brother is 14 and I just found out there is a sex offender living right next door, is that allowed?”

The answer to this person’s question is: Yes, it is allowed as long as the residence and the person's restrictions are in adherence to the sex offender management laws where you live.

But it makes sense that this might feel more complex. Here is some more information that we shared with them about this:

People who commit sex offenses

Firstly, I want you to know that finding out someone who has been known to be harmful to others lives close to you can be scary and unsettling. It makes a lot of sense you would be worried about whether or not this is okay.

Sexual offenses include a lot of different behaviors. Some people may be listed on the sex offender registry for committing crimes against adults, others against children, while others may be registered because they had a sexual relationship with a 17 year-old when they were 20, and legal age of consent was an issue. And it can be hard to determine risk just based on someone being a registered sex offender since there are many factors that could impact their success and safety living back out in the community; their ability to take accountability for their past behaviors, whether they are engaged in treatment, their social supports, and whether they are able to find a job and housing in the community.

If this individual has been convicted of a sexual offense it is likely they are being supervised by a probation or parole officer, and that their housing was approved by whoever supervises them and meets the requirements of this individual’s probation. It is unlikely the person is living in a home or community that violates the sex offender laws in your state. This means that, in all probability, it has been deemed “safe” for them to live in a community where there are children around.

This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t ask questions, though! And it’s absolutely okay to seek the support of adults around you to get more information about the situation so they can make sure you, your brother, and other youth in the neighborhood stay safe.

Getting adults involved

I’m not sure how you found out that your neighbor is on the sex offender registry, but if you haven’t had a chance to talk to your parents about this, that will be an important next step. The adults in your life would want to know that this is a concern of yours so they can address it and make sure that you are feeling safe at home. They would be able to get more information about this person from the National Sex Offender Registry website, or your state’s sex offender registry site. You may even be able to reach out to their probation or parole office directly to find out how they have been doing since being released and any restrictions on housing this person may have, and discuss any concerns they have about their behavior now.

In fact, they could even reach out to our helpline, or our partner site Stop It Now! to talk more about this and learn about other steps they can take to increase safety within your community.

Don’t be afraid to speak up

Please know that if any adult is ever behaving in a way that makes you or other kids in your neighborhood feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you should let an adult know as soon as possible. Whether it’s a parent, a friend’s parents, a teacher, guidance counselor, coach, or faith leader. You deserve to feel safe in your community, and the adults in your life are responsible for addressing any situations that compromise that.

Our helpline can help you figure out how to talk to an adult about concerns you might have about an adult's behavior.