Both federal and state laws facilitate oversight of sexual offenders and predators living in Florida communities, with state agencies and local law enforcement monitoring, registering, verifying, and providing information about sex offenders. Florida is one of 18 states that are substantially compliant with federal sex offender registry requirements.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s sex offender registry lists more than 86,000 offenders and predators, of which, over 30,000 reside in Florida communities. Sixty-three percent of offenders on the registry are either confined or do not live in Florida.

The transient offender population continues to present monitoring challenges and has grown since OPPAGA’s last review. Approximately 7% of registered sexual offenders and 12% of sexual predators living in Florida communities are homeless or transient, with rates varying by county and ranging from 0% to 34%. Sheriffs’ offices that reported transient populations often cited residence restrictions as a contributing factor to sex offender transience.

While Florida statutes only place residence restrictions on certain offenders, local governments can impose municipal or county residence restrictions that further limit where some or all sex offenders can live. Most counties have at least one county or city sex offender ordinance, and the number of ordinances in place has increased across the state.

Sex offenders may be removed from Florida’s sex offender registry under certain circumstances. Since 2021, approximately 2,500 individuals have been removed from the registry; most individuals removed were deceased.

Sex Offender Registration and Monitoring Triennial Review - 2021
Report 21-10 December 2021
Sex Offender Registration and Monitoring Triennial Review - 2018
Report 18-08 December 2018
Sex Offender Registration and Monitoring: Statewide Requirements, Local Practices, and Monitoring Procedures
Report 15-16 December 2015
Registered Sex Offenders in Florida Communities Increased to Over 23,000; Transient Offenders Present Challenges
Report 12-12 December 2012

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.