Sex Offenders in Randolph County

The Randolph County sex offender registry is part of the statewide ACIC database that lets you search for registered sex offenders in Pocahontas and across Northeast Arkansas. The Randolph County Sheriff's Office manages local registration and compliance for all sex offenders in the county. You can search by name, address, or zip code to find Level 3 and Level 4 registrants in Randolph County at no cost. This page explains the registration process, how risk levels are assigned, what check-in requirements apply, and how the public search tool works for Randolph County residents.

Randolph County Sex Offender Registry Search

The Arkansas public search tool at ark.org/offender-search covers Randolph County and all 74 other Arkansas counties. Use it to look up Level 3 and Level 4 registered sex offenders by name, city, county, or zip code. Results include the offender's current address, a recent photo, and details about the offense that required registration.

Only Level 3 (High Risk) and Level 4 (Sexually Violent Predator) offenders appear in the public search results. Level 1 and Level 2 offenders are not publicly listed. If you search a name and find nothing, that does not mean the person is not registered. They may be listed at a lower risk level, may have recently moved, or may have had their registration terminated by the court. Law enforcement agencies have full access to all four levels in the ACIC system.

In 2022, ACIC partnered with Mainstream Technologies to upgrade the registry. The update brought better search functionality and faster relocation updates for every county in Arkansas, including Randolph County. When a registrant in Pocahontas moves or changes their address, the update now flows to the public database faster than under the older system.

Registration at the Randolph County Sheriff's Office

The Randolph County Sheriff's Office in Pocahontas is where all county sex offenders register. The deadline is three business days from when the person establishes residency in the county. This applies to people arriving from out of state, those released from incarceration, and anyone placed on probation or parole. Weekends do not stop the clock. The three-day window is strict.

At registration, you must bring a valid ID, documentation of your current address, your court sentencing paperwork, vehicle information, and a complete list of every online account, email address, and screen name you use. The registering deputy takes a photo and submits all the information to ACIC electronically through the CENSOR system. The CENSOR digital filing system replaced paper forms and lets Randolph County submit registration data directly to ACIC in real time, which speeds up public registry updates.

If you work or go to school in a different county, you must also register with the law enforcement agency there. The same three-day rule applies to that county as well. Randolph County registrants who take jobs in a neighboring county, or who enroll in school there, are covered by this requirement.

Risk Level System in Randolph County

SOSRA, the Sex Offender Screening and Risk Assessment unit at 2403 E. Harding Ave., Pine Bluff, AR 71611, phone (870) 850-8429, assigns a risk level to every registered sex offender in Arkansas, including those in Randolph County. The assessment looks at the offender's full criminal history, their interview responses, mental health and treatment records, and scores from actuarial tools. In some cases SOSRA also runs a polygraph or computerized voice stress analysis to help determine the risk level.

Arkansas has four levels. Level 1 is low risk. These offenders typically have no prior sex offense history and no significant antisocial or predatory patterns. Level 2 is moderate risk. Level 3 is high risk and involves a history of repeated offending or strong violent tendencies. Level 4 is Sexually Violent Predator status, reserved for those with severe sexual compulsions they cannot control. The Cornell Law reference on Arkansas Megan's Law explains that Level 3 and Level 4 designations carry the broadest community notification requirements.

If an offender refuses to take part in the assessment or misses both scheduled appointments, SOSRA assigns a default Level 3 or sends the case for Level 4 review. Offenders may request a reassessment after five years, at their own cost. A lower risk level from reassessment means less frequent check-ins and reduced notification obligations.

The full text of Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-901 et seq. at Justia covers the complete registration framework that applies to Randolph County sex offenders and all registrants in Arkansas.

Check-In and Compliance for Randolph County Registrants

Randolph County sex offenders must check in with the Sheriff's Office on a set schedule. Level 1, 2, and 3 offenders report every six months. Level 4 offenders report every three months. At each visit, a new photo is taken and all registration details are reviewed. If there are any changes, including a new address, new employer, new school, or new vehicle, the offender updates those details during the check-in.

Missing a required check-in is treated the same as failing to register. Under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-901 et seq., failure to register or keep registration current is a Class C felony. Penalties are three to ten years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Three separate failures to register result in lifetime registration with no option to petition for early removal.

Common registration violations in Randolph County and across Arkansas include skipping a check-in date, moving without giving notice in advance, listing a false address, and leaving out online accounts during registration. Each is treated as a new felony offense.

Residency Limits for High-Risk Offenders

Level 3 and Level 4 sex offenders in Randolph County cannot live within 2,000 feet of any public or private school or licensed daycare. The restriction covers every part of the county. It has been Arkansas law since 2003 and was upheld by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals as a valid public safety measure. Level 1 and Level 2 offenders are not subject to this rule.

There is one limited exception. Offenders who owned and occupied their home before a nearby school or daycare opened, or before July 16, 2003, may keep that property. The exception is automatically lost if the offender commits another sex offense after those dates. Knowingly violating the residency restriction is a Class D felony. There is no warning system. The violation is based solely on where the offender lives relative to the nearest covered facility.

Applying to End Registration

Randolph County sex offenders who have been registered for fifteen years from the date of their release from custody may file a petition to end their registration obligation. The process is set out in Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-919. The petitioner files with the court and serves copies on the prosecuting attorney, ACIC, and the community notification unit at least thirty days before the scheduled hearing.

Victims enrolled in the VINE system are notified when the petition is filed. At the hearing, the court looks at whether the person stayed free of sex offense convictions over the full fifteen-year period and whether they still pose any risk to public safety. If the court denies the petition, the person must wait three full years before filing again. Lifetime registrants cannot petition for removal. ACIC will remove someone from the registry when it receives proof of death.

Nearby Counties

Search sex offender records for counties near Randolph County.