Message From The Sheriff
MESSAGE FROM SHERIFF
NICK WELDEN  ( read )
Phone:
EMERGENCY: 911
24 Hours:
256-845-3801
Crime Tip:
256-845-3801
Address:
2801 Jordan Road SW
Fort Payne, AL 35968
Administrative Office:
Monday - Friday
8:00am - 4:00pm


Sex Offender Division

The Sex Offender Registration Division registers all criminal sex offenders who reside or work inside DeKalb County.County Sex Offenders must register every three months with Offender Compliance Specialist Nina Haney, who uses a system networked through the State of Alabama to assist her in keeping up with these individuals. We do monthly checks on these registered individuals to confirm that the residence and work information they provide is correct. We believe that maintaining diligence in our requirements and checks is an important factor in keeping our children, other potential victims, and the community as a whole as safe as possible. 

 Some of the requirements for the sex offenders are as follows:

  • The offender is required to register all required registration information within three (3) business days of release, or conviction if the offender is not incarcerated, with local law enforcement in each county/municipality where the offender intends to reside, be employed or attend school.
  • The offender has seven (7) days from release to comply with the residency restrictions listed in Act No. 2011-640.
  • The offender is required to register within three (3) business days of establishing a new residence, accepting employment or beginning school attendance with local law enforcement in each county/municipality in which the offender establishes residence, accepts employment or begins school attendance.
  • The offender is required to register within three (3) business days of transferring or terminating a residence, employment or school attendance with local law enforcement in each county/municipality in which the offender is terminating residence, employment or school attendance.
  • The offender must appear in person and update the required registration information with local law enforcement in each county/municipality in which the offender is resides, is employed or attends school within three (3) business days.
  • The offender shall not establish a residence, any other living accommodation or habitually live within 2,000 feet of the property line of any school or child care facility.
  • The offender shall not establish a residence, any other living accommodation or habitually live within 2,000 feet of the property line on which any of his or her former victims or the victims’ immediate family members reside.
  • The offender shall not establish a residence where a person under the age of 18 year of age resides, except as elsewhere provided by law.
  • The offender shall not accept employment within 2,000 feet of any school or licensed child care facility. Additionally, the offender cannot apply for, accept, or maintain employment or vocation or volunteer at any school, childcare facility, mobile vending business that provides services primarily to children, or any other business or organization that provides services primarily to children.
  • All out of state offenders must register in accordance with the Act upon entering this state to establish a residence, begin employment, or begin school attendance with local law enforcement in each county of residence, employment, or school attendance and must provide a certified copy of their conviction within 30 days of the initial registration.
  • If an offender intends to be away from his or her residence for a period of three or more consecutive days, the offender shall report such information in person within three (3) business days prior to leaving his or her jurisdiction for such travel to local law enforcement in his or her county of residence and complete a travel permit provided by the sheriff.
  • The offender shall not knowingly come within 100 feet of any of his or her former victims.
  • The offender shall not contact, directly or indirectly, in person or through others, by phone, mail, or electronic means, any former victim. No offender shall make any harassing communication, directly or indirectly, in person or through others, by phone or electronic means to the victim or any immediate family member of the victim.
  • Any offender convicted of a sex offense involving a minor cannot loiter within 500 feet of the property line of any property on which there is a school, childcare facility, playground, park, athletic field or facility, school bus stop, college or university, or any other business or facility having a principal purpose of caring for, educating, or entertaining minors.
  • The offender shall obtain and have in his or her possession at all times a valid driver license or identification card issued by the Alabama Department of Public Safety, this card shall bear a designation that enables law enforcement officers to identify the licensee as a sex offender. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

  • Q. THERE IS AN OFFENDER IN OUR AREA THAT I BELIEVE IS COMING IN CONTACT WITH CHILDREN. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
  • A. First of all, do not confront the individual. Contact us and inform us of your suspicion. We will inquire whether or not contact with children is being made. 
  • Q.WHAT DO I TELL MY CHILDREN ABOUT THIS OFFENDER?
  • A. DON'T accept a ride from this person, DON'T go into their home or yard. TELL your parents if this person offers you toys, money or gifts. 
  • Q. CAN A SEX OFFENDER LIVE WITH A MINOR OR HAVE CONTACT WITH A MINOR?
  • A. The law only covers residency and employment restrictions upon a convicted sex offender. As a general rule, sex offenders may not live with a minor. There are certain exceptions. An offender can live with a minor child as long as the offender is a parent, step-parent, or grandparent and as long as the offender's victim was not a child under his/her care or supervision at the time of the offense. If the offender's victim was a child under the age of 12, he/she cannot live with a minor, nor loiter in areas where children congregate. 
  • Q. HOW DO I REPORT SOMEONE WHO IS LIVING TOO CLOSE TO A SCHOOL, DAYCARE, OR WHO IS NOT AT THE ADDRESS DISPLAYED ON THE WEB?
  • A. Contact your local law enforcement. The local agencies are responsible for verifying the address and providing ABI with any changes. 
  • Q. IF A CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER IS RESIDING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHY WAS I NOT NOTIFIED?
  • A. There may be several reasons for this. If the person was convicted prior to May 1996, the offender is not subject to notification unless there is a change of residence. Also, if convicted out-of-state, they are not subject until after a due process hearing is completed in some cases. Or, the offender may have been residing in the neighborhood before you moved into the community and there are no on-going notifications. 

OTHER SAFETY TIPS TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR CHILDREN:

  • There are certain kinds of strangers that can assist you when you need help - others with children, other children, police in uniform or store clerks in the mall. 
  • Teach your children to dial 911 and to use a pay phone without money.
  • Teach your children to trust their feelings and say NO and run away from a situation that doesn't feel right.