Find Sex Offenders in Pope County

The Pope County sex offender registry is part of the statewide ACIC database you can search online at no cost. The Pope County Sheriff's Office in Russellville handles all local registration for the county, including compliance checks and address verification for all registered sex offenders. You can search by name, city, or zip code to find Level 3 and Level 4 sex offenders anywhere in Pope County. This page explains the registration process, risk level system, and how the registry is maintained for residents of North Central Arkansas.

Pope County Sex Offender Registry Search

The Arkansas public search tool is available at ark.org/offender-search. You can filter results by county, making it easy to see all publicly listed sex offenders in Pope County. Each listing shows the person's current address, a photo, and information about the offense behind the registration. The tool is maintained by the Arkansas Crime Information Center in Little Rock.

Only Level 3 and Level 4 registrants appear in the public search. Level 1 and Level 2 offenders are not shown to the public. If someone does not show up in a Pope County search, it does not mean they are not registered. They may be at a lower risk level or may live in an adjacent county but work or study in Pope County. Law enforcement has full access to all risk levels in the ACIC system.

The Cornell Law reference on Arkansas Megan's Law covers the full legal framework for sex offender registration across Pope County and the rest of the state.

Pope County Sheriff Registration Requirements

The Pope County Sheriff's Office is the registration point for all sex offenders living in the county. Registration must happen within three business days of arriving in Pope County, whether you are moving from another state, being released from jail or prison, or starting probation or parole. The Sheriff's Office works with the Russellville Police Department for residents who live within city limits.

At registration, you must bring a valid ID or state-issued identification card, proof of your current address, your court sentencing documents, vehicle details including make, model, and license plate, and a full list of every online account, email address, and screen name you use. The Sheriff captures your photo and fingerprints, then submits everything to ACIC through the CENSOR electronic system. The CENSOR system was launched to let local law enforcement file registration forms directly with ACIC online, replacing paper forms that had to be faxed or mailed.

Pope County offenders who attend Arkansas Tech University in Russellville must self-report to campus public safety as well. Arkansas Tech keeps a separate list of registered sex offenders connected to the campus, as required by the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act.

Risk Level Assignments in Pope County

Every sex offender who registers in Pope County is assigned a risk level by the Sex Offender Screening and Risk Assessment unit, SOSRA, located at 2403 E. Harding Ave., Pine Bluff, AR 71611. The risk assessment looks at the offender's criminal history, prior sex offenses, mental health records, and actuarial test results. SOSRA staff conduct an in-person interview, and in some cases run a polygraph or voice stress analysis.

Level 1 is low risk. Level 2 is moderate risk. Level 3 is high risk, with a history of repeat offending or strong violent tendencies. Level 4 is Sexually Violent Predator status, reserved for those with compulsive and uncontrollable sexual violence. The risk level determines how often an offender checks in, what restrictions apply to where they can live, and how the public is notified. Under Arkansas Megan's Law, Level 3 offenders require direct community notification to neighbors, while Level 4 status can trigger press releases and public meetings.

Offenders can request a reassessment after five years. Reassessments cost money, with fees charged to the offender. A successful reassessment could result in a lower level and less frequent check-in requirements.

Check-In Schedule for Pope County Registrants

Level 1, 2, and 3 sex offenders in Pope County must check in with the Sheriff's Office every six months. Level 4 offenders must appear every three months. At each check-in, a new photo is taken and all personal and address information is verified. If anything has changed, such as a new job, school enrollment, or vehicle, the offender must update those details at that time.

Failing to appear for a required check-in is treated the same as failing to register. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-901 et seq., failure to register is a Class C felony. This carries a sentence of three to ten years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Three failures to register result in lifetime registration with no path to early removal from the registry.

Offenders who are homeless still must register. They typically use the Sheriff's Office address as their registered address and may be required to check in more often than other registrants. The law makes no exception for lack of a fixed address.

Pope County Residency Restrictions

Level 3 and Level 4 sex offenders in Pope County cannot live within 2,000 feet of any public or private school or daycare facility. This applies in Russellville and across all parts of Pope County. The restriction was enacted by the Arkansas General Assembly in 2003 and was upheld by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in Weems v. Little Rock Police Department.

An offender who owned and occupied their home before a nearby school or daycare opened, or before July 16, 2003, may keep that residence under a limited exception. That exception disappears the moment the offender commits another sex offense. Knowingly violating the residency restriction is a Class D felony in Arkansas. Level 1 and Level 2 offenders are not subject to the 2,000-foot rule.

Ending Registration in Pope County

Some Pope County sex offenders may petition to end their registration obligation after fifteen years under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-919. The fifteen years begin from the date of release from custody or the start of probation or parole. The petition goes to the court, and the prosecuting attorney, ACIC, and the community notification unit receive a copy at least thirty days before the hearing.

Victims registered with the VINE notification system also receive an alert when a petition is filed. The court looks at whether the offender has been conviction-free for sex offenses during the entire fifteen-year period and whether they still pose any risk. If the court says no, the offender must wait three years before filing again. ACIC removes an offender from the registry when given proof of death.

Cities in Pope County

Pope County includes one city that qualifies for its own sex offender records page.

Nearby Counties

Search sex offender records in counties near Pope County.