Registered sex offenders under few restrictions

Registered sex offenders in West Virginia who have served their sentence and are not under supervision from parole or probation officers have no limitations on their movement.

When a convicted sex offender was arrested for public intoxication at a recent carnival, the question arose of whether a known sex offender is allowed to be at a location where there are many children.

According to the West Virginia State Police Sex Offenders Registry office, only sex offenders who are being supervised on parole or probation have restrictions. Restrictions may be placed on sex offenders by the parole board or parole officer, or by a judge or probation officer.

However, once the parole or probation period ends, so do the restrictions. Currently there are 23 sex offenders registered in Morgan County.

Convicted sex offenders who live in West Virginia, or who live in another state and work in West Virginia, or who visit West Virginia for a period of 15 or more continuous days must register with the state police.

This includes students from another state going to school in West Virginia and members of the military who are stationed in the state. If one has been convicted as a sex offender in any state, federal or military jurisdiction, one must register in West Virginia.

Questions should be directed to the West Virginia State Police Sex Offenders Registry at 304-746-2133.