The St Johns County Sex Offender Registry is a public list of every person required by Florida law to register as a sex offender or sexual predator in St Johns County, Florida. The list is run by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and managed locally by the St Johns County Sheriffs Office. Any member of the public can look up a name, an address, a ZIP code, or a nearby radius for free. No account or login is needed to view the records. The registry helps parents, renters, homeowners, and businesses stay aware of registered offenders living or working in their area.
What the St Johns County Sex Offender Registry Covers
The registry covers every person who lives, works, or spends time in St Johns County and has been convicted of a qualifying sex crime under Florida law. The same rule applies to people who move into St Johns County from another state. All registration records are sent to the FDLE and posted to the public database.
Who Must Register in St Johns County
Florida law requires registration for anyone convicted of a sex crime listed in Florida Statute 943.0435. This includes adults and juveniles who were charged as adults. It also includes people whose convictions came from other states or from federal court, as long as the crime would trigger registration under Florida rules. The law covers people living in homes, apartments, boats, hotels, and even people with no fixed address.
Common qualifying crimes include sexual battery, lewd or lascivious acts on a child, child pornography, and kidnapping with a sexual purpose. People convicted of traveling to meet a minor or trying to lure a child online must also register. A full list of qualifying crimes is posted on the Florida Legislature website.
Why Florida Created the Public Registry
Florida created the public registry so parents, neighbors, and schools can see where registered offenders live. The goal is to reduce the risk of repeat crimes by giving the public tools to stay aware. The registry is not a list of people found guilty of new crimes. It is a list of people who already served their sentence and now must report their location to the sheriffs office on a set schedule.
How the Sheriffs Office Handles Registration
All in-person sex offender registration in St Johns County is handled by the St Johns County Sheriffs Office. There is no online registration and no mail-in option. Every person who must register must appear in person at the sheriffs office and follow the same process.
Where to Register in Person
Registration takes place at the St Johns County Sheriffs Office at 4015 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084. The main phone line for non-emergency questions is (904) 824-8304. The office is open during normal business hours on weekdays. People who need to register should call ahead to confirm hours and bring all required paperwork.
What to Bring to Registration
First-time registrants must bring a valid government-issued photo ID, proof of their St Johns County address, and any court paperwork showing the conviction. People moving from another Florida county or from out of state must bring their old registration paperwork. This lets staff verify the offense, set the right reporting schedule, and assign the correct designation.
- Valid government-issued photo ID
- Proof of St Johns County address
- Court paperwork showing the conviction
- Prior registration records (if moving from another county or state)
Data Collected at Registration
During the in-person visit, staff collect the full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, race, height, weight, eye color, and hair color. Staff also collect the home address, work address, vehicle plate numbers, phone numbers, email addresses, and every social media account used by the registrant. A photo and fingerprints are taken on site. All this data is then sent to the FDLE for the public database.
Registration Rules and Re-Registration Schedules
Florida sets a strict schedule for re-registration. The schedule depends on whether the person is listed as a sexual offender or a sexual predator. Both groups must keep all data current at all times.
Standard Sexual Offender Schedule
Standard sex offenders must report in person to the sheriffs office twice each year. The first visit falls during the registrants birth month. The second visit falls six months later. Missing a visit is a third-degree felony, even if the person still lives at the same address and has not broken any other rule.
Sexual Predator Schedule
Sexual predators must re-register four times each year, once every three months. The higher number of visits reflects the higher risk level set by a Florida court. The sheriffs office checks every visit to make sure the registrants data has not changed since the last report.
Transient Registrant Rules
People with no fixed home address are called transient registrants. Transient registrants in St Johns County must report to the sheriffs office every 30 days. They must give a clear location of where they are sleeping on the day of the report. Not having a permanent home does not remove the registration duty. It only changes the schedule.
The 48-Hour Change Rule
Any change to the registrants data must be reported to the sheriffs office within 48 hours. This rule covers new addresses, new vehicles, new phone numbers, new email addresses, new jobs, new schools, and any new online account. The 48-hour window does not stop for weekends or public holidays. Late reports carry the same penalty as failing to register in the first place.
Sexual Offender vs Sexual Predator in Florida
Florida uses two separate labels for people on the registry. The labels sound similar, but the rules tied to each one are different. Both labels appear in the same public database.
How Florida Defines a Sexual Offender
A sexual offender is a person convicted of a qualifying sex crime under Florida law or under the laws of another state that would qualify in Florida. The label is automatic once the conviction is final. No separate court hearing is needed. Sex offenders follow the twice-a-year reporting schedule and the standard residency rules.
How Florida Defines a Sexual Predator
A sexual predator is a person who meets a higher risk level set out in Florida Statute 775.21. A court must make a separate finding that the person is a predator based on the crime, prior record, and other risk factors. Predators follow the four-times-a-year reporting schedule and are subject to active community notification by the sheriffs office.
Key Differences Between the Two
Sexual offenders report twice a year. Sexual predators report four times a year. Sexual offenders do not trigger automatic community alerts. Sexual predators do, which means the sheriffs office may notify nearby schools, daycares, and homes when a predator registers at a new address. Both groups are in the same FDLE database, and predator records are clearly labeled so searchers can tell them apart at a glance.
| Category | Sexual Offender | Sexual Predator |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting Schedule | Twice a year | Four times a year |
| Community Alerts | No | Yes |
| Court Hearing Required | No | Yes |
| Public Database | Yes | Yes (red flag icon) |
| Residency Rules | 1,000-foot buffer | 1,000-foot buffer |
How to Search the St Johns County Registry Online
The main search tool for the St Johns County Sex Offender Registry is the FDLE public search portal. The portal is free to use, runs 24 hours a day, and works on any web browser.
Using the FDLE Public Search Portal
The FDLE portal is hosted at offender.fdle.state.fl.us. To start a search, pick St Johns County from the county list. Users can also search the whole state and then filter the results by county. The portal returns a list of every registered offender and predator whose listed address falls inside the county.
Searching by Name Address or ZIP
Users can run four main types of search. The first is a name search, which works best with the full legal name. The second is an address search, which shows every registrant living at a given address. The third is a ZIP code search, which lists every registrant in a chosen ZIP code. The fourth is a city search, which lists every registrant in a chosen city inside St Johns County.
Using the Radius Search Tool
The FDLE portal also has a radius search tool that works like a sex offender map for St Johns County. A user enters a street address and picks a distance, such as one mile or five miles. The portal then lists every registered offender and predator whose address falls inside that circle. This tool is useful for checking the area around a school, a park, a daycare, or a new home.
National Sex Offender Public Website
People who want to check records from other states can use the National Sex Offender Public Website at nsopw.gov. The site pulls data from every state that takes part in the national system. Once a person registers in St Johns County, their record will show up in both the FDLE portal and the national site.
Residency Restrictions in St Johns County
Florida law bars registered sex offenders and sexual predators from living within 1,000 feet of certain places where children gather. The same rule applies in St Johns County.
The 1000-Foot Buffer Zone
Under Florida Statute 775.215, the 1,000-foot rule is measured from property line to property line, not from door to door. The distance is the same in every Florida county. The St Johns County Sheriffs Office checks new addresses against this rule during registration. If an address falls inside the buffer zone, the registrant must pick a different home before the address can be added to the registry.
Locations Covered by the Restriction
The 1,000-foot rule covers public and private schools, licensed child care facilities, public parks, public playgrounds, and other places where children regularly gather. The list is set by state law, not by local rule. A full list of covered locations is posted on the Florida Department of Children and Families website.
- Public K-12 schools
- Private K-12 schools
- Licensed child care facilities
- Public parks
- Public playgrounds
- Other places where children regularly gather
Local Ordinance Rules in St Johns County
Some cities and towns in St Johns County may set stricter rules than the state. Local rules can add a wider buffer zone, ban registrants from certain public places, or set extra conditions for work locations. Anyone planning a move in the county should check both state law and the local rules of the city or town where the new home sits before signing a lease or closing on a house.
Free Email Alerts for St Johns County Residents
St Johns County residents can get free email alerts when a registered offender or predator moves into a chosen ZIP code. The service is run by the state and is open to anyone with an email address.
How Florida Offender Alert Works
Florida Offender Alert is hosted at floridaoffenderalert.com. Users sign up with an email address and pick the ZIP codes they want to track. The system then watches the FDLE database for new registrations, address changes, and status changes inside the chosen ZIP codes. When activity happens, the user gets an email with the registrants photo, name, and new address.
Setting Up ZIP Code Alerts
To set up alerts, visit the site and create a free account. Pick up to five ZIP codes per account. Pick the ZIP code for a home, a school, a workplace, or any other place the user wants to watch. The system runs in the background and sends alerts only when the data changes. Users can add or drop ZIP codes at any time.
Who Should Sign Up for Alerts
Parents with school-age children, renters moving to a new home, and homeowners thinking about a sale are all good candidates for the alert service. The service is free, runs 24 hours a day, and takes only a few minutes to set up. It is one of the easiest ways to stay current on registry changes without checking the FDLE portal every day.
Reporting a Violation or Suspicious Activity
Anyone who spots a possible registry violation in St Johns County can report it to the sheriffs office. Reports help deputies keep the registry accurate and up to date.
How to Report a Non-Compliant Registrant
To report a possible violation, call the St Johns County Sheriffs Office non-emergency line at (904) 824-8304. Give the registrants full name, the address in question, and the reason for the report. Do not approach the person yourself. Trained deputies handle all follow-up contact.
What Happens After a Report
After a report is filed, deputies check the registry data, visit the address, and confirm whether a violation has taken place. If a violation is confirmed, the case is sent to the State Attorneys Office for charges. Common violations include failure to report a new address, failure to report a new vehicle, and living within the 1,000-foot buffer zone.
Suspected Failure to Register
Failure to register is a third-degree felony in Florida. People who suspect someone is hiding from the registry should call the sheriffs office or submit a tip through the FDLE portal. Tips can be filed anonymously. Deputies follow up on every credible report.
St Johns County Sheriffs Office Contact Details
The St Johns County Sheriffs Office is the main point of contact for all sex offender and predator registration in the county. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM for in-person registration and public questions. The office is closed on weekends and major public holidays. Call the non-emergency line before visiting to confirm hours and required paperwork.
Address: 4015 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Phone: (904) 824-8304
Official Website: www.stjohnssheriff.org
FDLE Search Portal: offender.fdle.state.fl.us
Florida Offender Alert: floridaoffenderalert.com
National Sex Offender Public Website: nsopw.gov
FAQ About the St Johns County Sex Offender Registry
The St Johns County Sex Offender Registry raises many common questions for residents, parents, and people who must register. The FAQ section below covers the most asked questions with straight, fact-based answers. Each answer pulls from current Florida law and current FDLE practice as of 2026. These short answers are meant to help the public, parents, and registrants know their rights and duties under the law.
How often do sex offenders register in St Johns County?
The reporting schedule in St Johns County follows the statewide rule set by the FDLE. Standard sex offenders must report in person to the St Johns County Sheriffs Office twice each year. The first visit must happen during the registrants birth month. The second visit must happen six months later, in the same calendar year. The office records the date and time of every visit, and missing a visit is a third-degree felony under Florida Statute 943.0435. Sexual predators follow a stricter schedule and must report four times a year, or once every three months. The first visit is during the birth month, and the next three visits fall every 90 days after. Transient registrants with no fixed home must report every 30 days, no matter what time of year it is. The same rule applies to people on probation or parole for a sex crime. Every visit must take place at the sheriffs office, and online reporting is not allowed. Deputies review the registrants data at each visit and ask about any changes since the last report.
Can a person remove their name from the registry?
Florida treats registration as a lifetime duty for most qualifying crimes. A small group of juvenile offenders may petition the court for removal after 25 years, but only if they have not broken any other law and can show they pose no risk to the community. The petition must be filed in the circuit court where the original conviction took place, and a judge must grant the order. Even then, removal is rare and only happens after a full hearing. Most adults on the registry stay on it for life, no matter how long ago the crime took place. People whose convictions came from another state must follow the same Florida rules once they register here. A person who moves out of Florida is removed from the Florida registry only after showing proof of registration in the new state. The new state then takes over the reporting duty. The only way to come off the registry in Florida is through a court order, and the bar for that order is high. Any move, job change, or travel lasting more than 48 hours must still be reported during the petition process.
What is the difference between offender and predator?
Florida uses two separate labels for people on the registry. A sexual offender is a person convicted of a qualifying sex crime under Florida law or under the laws of another state that would qualify in Florida. The label is automatic once the conviction is final, and no separate court hearing is needed. A sexual predator is a person a Florida court has found to be at higher risk of re-offending based on the crime, prior record, and other risk factors. The court makes a separate finding under Florida Statute 775.21, and the label is added to the public record. Predators report four times a year, and offenders report twice a year. Predators also trigger active community notification by the sheriffs office. When a predator registers at a new address, deputies may notify nearby schools, daycares, and homes. Offenders do not trigger the same active alerts, but their records are still in the public database. Both groups must follow the 1,000-foot residency rule and the 48-hour change rule. The FDLE portal shows both groups in the same search, and predator records are clearly labeled with a red flag icon for easy viewing.
Can a sex offender live near a school in St Johns?
Florida law bars registered sex offenders and sexual predators from living within 1,000 feet of a school, child care facility, park, or playground. The rule is set in Florida Statute 775.215 and applies in every Florida county, including St Johns. The distance is measured from property line to property line, not from door to door. The St Johns County Sheriffs Office checks every new address against this rule during registration. If the address falls inside the buffer zone, the registrant must pick a different home before the address can be added to the registry. The rule covers both permanent and temporary homes. A registrant cannot stay overnight at a non-compliant address even for a single night. The same rule also covers schools, licensed child care facilities, public parks, and public playgrounds. Some cities and towns in St Johns County may set stricter local rules, such as a wider buffer or extra limits on work locations. A good-faith move to a non-compliant address still counts as a violation under Florida law. Registrants should check both state and local rules before signing a lease or closing on a home.
How can I check if a sex offender lives near me?
The fastest way to check is the FDLE public search portal at offender.fdle.state.fl.us. The portal is free, open 24 hours a day, and works on any web browser. Users can run a name search, an address search, a city search, a ZIP code search, or a radius search. The radius search is the most useful tool for checking who lives near a specific address. A user enters a home, school, or park address and picks a distance, such as one mile or five miles. The portal then lists every registered offender and predator within that circle. Each result shows the registrants photo, name, address, physical description, offense history, and predator status if applicable. For ongoing alerts, sign up at floridaoffenderalert.com. The service is free and tracks ZIP codes for new registrations, address changes, and status changes. Parents with school-age children, renters moving to a new home, and homeowners thinking about a sale are all good candidates for the alert service. The national site at nsopw.gov covers records from other states for people who have moved to St Johns from out of state.
What happens if a sex offender does not report a move?
Failure to report a new address within 48 hours is a third-degree felony in Florida. The penalty is the same as failing to register in the first place. The 48-hour clock starts the moment the move takes place, and the rule does not stop for weekends or public holidays. The St Johns County Sheriffs Office tracks all address changes through the FDLE portal. When a deputy finds a gap or mismatch, the case is sent to the State Attorneys Office for charges. A first-time violation can carry up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Repeat violations carry heavier sentences, and any new felony on the record can add to the prison time. Deputies can also arrest a registrant on the spot if they find the person at a non-compliant address. The same rule applies to vehicle changes, phone number changes, email changes, and social media changes. A registrant who plans to move should call the sheriffs office before the move to confirm the new address is compliant. Anyone who spots a possible violation should call the sheriffs office at (904) 824-8304 or submit a tip through the FDLE portal.
Is the St Johns registry the same as FDLE database?
Yes. The St Johns County Sheriffs Office collects all registration data and sends it to the FDLE. The FDLE then posts the data to the public search portal. The portal covers every Florida county, so users can search the whole state or filter results to St Johns County only. The same search tools work for both views, including name, address, ZIP code, city, and radius search. Each result includes the registrants photo, name, address, physical description, offense history, and predator status if applicable. The portal updates on an ongoing basis as the sheriffs office sends in new data. There may be a short lag between the time a change is reported and when it shows up in the public portal, but most changes appear within a few business days. The national site at nsopw.gov pulls data from the FDLE portal and adds records from other states. Once a person registers in St Johns County, their record will show up in both the FDLE portal and the national site. St Johns County residents who want email alerts can sign up at floridaoffenderalert.com for free.