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Sex Offenders in Benton County

How Sex Offender Community Notification Works in Benton County

The majority of registered sex offenders in Benton County ARE NOT included on our Sex Offender Community Notification web page.

Only "predatory" sex offenders are listed on the web page. *

According to Oregon law, any person who has been convicted of Rape in any degree, Sodomy in any degree, Unlawful Sexual Penetration in any degree, Sexual Abuse in any degree or any attempt to commit one of these crimes may be designated as "predatory." A "predatory" offender is someone who exhibits characteristics showing a tendency to victimize or injure others. In determining whether a person is a "predatory" sex offender, the supervising parole and probation agency shall use Static 99 risk assessment tool approved by the Oregon Department of Corrections. Some of the indicators on the risk assessment that would designate someone as being "predatory" are history of sexual offenses, convictions for non-sexual violence, four or more sentencing dates on the criminal record, being single, having a male victim, having an unrelated victim and being between the ages of 18 and 25 years old. At least four of these indicators must be present in order for someone to be designated "predatory."

Due to the Oregon Supreme Court decision in V.L.Y. vs. Board of Parole, 338 Or 44 (2005) the Oregon Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision has ceased making the "predatory" designation of sex offenders (ORS 181.585). Until this case is resolved, Benton County Community Corrections has made some changes to our website. Individuals who were previously designated as "predatory" will still appear as such on the Benton County Sex Offender Community Notification web page.

Once a sex offender has been designated as a being "predatory," they are placed on the Benton County Sex Offender Community Notification web page. In addition, a plan for community notification is worked up. In Benton County, this responsibility is shared by the Sex Offender Community Notification Committee, consisting of the offender's probation/parole officer, and representatives from the District Attorney's Office, Sheriff's Office Patrol Division, Corvallis Police Department, Services to Children and Families and a sex offender therapist. The committee meets regularly to discuss cases and decide the level of community notification that should be implemented. Common types of notification, in addition to being placed on the web site, include alerting local law enforcement, placing an advertisement in the local newspaper, going door-to-door to schools, agencies and homes in the area of where the "predatory" sex offender is residing.

Again, not all sex offenders appear on the Benton County Sex Offender Community Notification web page. Examples include those sex offenders who have not yet been convicted or sentenced, those who are being supervised in jurisdictions other than Benton County and those who have not been deemed "predatory."

A "predatory" sex offender designation is a life-long designation. If someone is placed on the Benton County Sex Offender Community Notification web page they will remain there the entire time that they are supervised by Benton County Community Corrections. When someone has completed their period of probation or parole supervision, responsibility for any further community notification transfers to the Oregon State Police.

* We have also included notification of individual(s) under the jurisdiction of the Board of Parole and Post Prison Supervision who meet the criteria for community notification, but have not been designated by the Board as "predatory."