Sex Offender Registry
SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY
The "Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act" (section 1601 of Public Law 106-386) is a federal law enacted on October 28, 2000 that provides for the tracking of convicted, registered sex offenders enrolled as students at institutions of higher education, or working or volunteering on campus. It was sponsored by U.S. Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona and supported by Security On Campus Inc.
The Act amends the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act to require sex offenders already required to register in a state to provide notice, as required under state law, of each institution of higher education in that state at which the person is employed, carries on a vocation, or is a student. It requires that state procedures ensure that this registration information is promptly made available to law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction where the institutions of higher education are located and that it is entered into appropriate state records or data systems. These changes took effect October 28, 2002. These requirements are tied to state eligibility for certain types of federal grant funding and must be implemented through state law.
It also amends the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act; to require institutions of higher education to issue a statement, in addition to other disclosures required under that Act, advising the campus community where law enforcement agency information provided by a state concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained. These changes took effect October 28, 2002 and this notice will be a requirement beginning with the annual security report due October 1, 2003.
Lastly, the Act amends the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 to clarify that nothing in that Act may be construed to prohibit an educational institution from disclosing information provided to the institution concerning registered sex offenders; and requires the Secretary of Education to take appropriate steps to notify educational institutions that disclosure of this information is permitted. This amendment took effect on October 28, 2000.
Limitations on Campus Housing
In 2017, the Texas Legislature added the following section related to sex offender residence in campus housing (Chapter 62 of the Code of Criminal Procedure):
Art. 62.064. PROHIBITED LOCATION OF RESIDENCE. A person subject to registration under this chapter may not reside on the campus of a public or private institution of higher education unless:
(1) the person is assigned a numeric risk level of one based on an assessment conducted using the sex offender screening tool developed or selected under Article 62.007; and
(2) the institution approves the person to reside on the institution's campus.
Registered Sex Offender Notification
In accordance with the "Campus Sex Crime Prevention Act" that provides for the tracking of convicted registered sex offenders enrolled as students at institutions of higher education or working on college campuses, The University of Texas at Arlington is providing the following website to the community to search by name or location: Texas Department of Public Safety Sex Offender Registry.
Sex Offender Registration
Registered sex offenders should coordinate with UTA Police Criminal Investigation staff on their campus status. Once your status on campus has been established (accepted as a UTA student), please contact our Criminal Investigations Unit to establish a time for registration. Call the police department non-emergency line at (817) 272-3381 and ask to be transferred to Criminal Investigations. Someone from the unit will assist you with setting up an appointment.