§14072. FBI database

(a) Definitions

For purposes of this section-

(1) the term "FBI" means the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

(2) the terms "criminal offense against a victim who is a minor", "sexually violent offense", "sexually violent predator", "mental abnormality", "predatory", "employed, carries on a vocation", and "student" have the same meanings as in section 14071(a)(3) of this title; and

(3) the term "minimally sufficient sexual offender registration program" means any State sexual offender registration program that-

(A) requires the registration of each offender who is convicted of an offense in a range of offenses specified by State law which is comparable to or exceeds that described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 14071(a)(1) of this title;

(B) participates in the national database established under subsection (b) of this section in conformity with guidelines issued by the Attorney General;

(C) provides for verification of address at least annually; ¹

(D) requires that each person who is required to register under subparagraph (A) shall do so for a period of not less than 10 years beginning on the date that such person was released from prison or placed on parole, supervised release, or probation.

(b) Establishment

The Attorney General shall establish a national database at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to track the whereabouts and movement of-

(1) each person who has been convicted of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor;

(2) each person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense; and

(3) each person who is a sexually violent predator.

(c) Registration requirement

Each person described in subsection (b) of this section who resides in a State that has not established a minimally sufficient sexual offender registration program shall register a current address, fingerprints of that person, and a current photograph of that person with the FBI for inclusion in the database established under subsection (b) of this section for the time period specified under subsection (d) of this section.

(d) Length of registration

A person described in subsection (b) of this section who is required to register under subsection (c) of this section shall, except during ensuing periods of incarceration, continue to comply with this section-

(1) until 10 years after the date on which the person was released from prison or placed on parole, supervised release, or probation; or

(2) for the life of the person, if that person-

(A) has 2 or more convictions for an offense described in subsection (b) of this section;

(B) has been convicted of aggravated sexual abuse, as defined in section 2241 of title 18 or in a comparable provision of State law; or

(C) has been determined to be a sexually violent predator.

(e) Verification

(1) Persons convicted of an offense against a minor or a sexually violent offense

In the case of a person required to register under subsection (c) of this section, the FBI shall, during the period in which the person is required to register under subsection (d) of this section, verify the person's address in accordance with guidelines that shall be promulgated by the Attorney General. Such guidelines shall ensure that address verification is accomplished with respect to these individuals and shall require the submission of fingerprints and photographs of the individual.

(2) Sexually violent predators

Paragraph (1) shall apply to a person described in subsection (b)(3) of this section, except that such person must verify the registration once every 90 days after the date of the initial release or commencement of parole of that person.

(f) Community notification

(1) In general

Subject to paragraph (2), the FBI may release relevant information concerning a person required to register under subsection (c) of this section that is necessary to protect the public.

(2) Identity of victim

In no case shall the FBI release the identity of any victim of an offense that requires registration by the offender with the FBI.

(g) Notification of FBI of changes in residence

(1) Establishment of new residence

For purposes of this section, a person shall be deemed to have established a new residence during any period in which that person resides for not less than 10 days.

(2) Persons required to register with the FBI

Each establishment of a new residence, including the initial establishment of a residence immediately following release from prison, or placement on parole, supervised release, or probation, by a person required to register under subsection (c) of this section shall be reported to the FBI not later than 10 days after that person establishes a new residence.

(3) Individual registration requirement

A person required to register under subsection (c) of this section or under a State sexual offender offender ² registration program, including a program established under section 14071 of this title, who changes address to a State other than the State in which the person resided at the time of the immediately preceding registration shall, not later than 10 days after that person establishes a new residence, register a current address, fingerprints, and photograph of that person, for inclusion in the appropriate database, with-

(A) the FBI; and

(B) the State in which the new residence is established.

(4) State registration requirement

Any time any State agency in a State with a minimally sufficient sexual offender registration program, including a program established under section 14071 of this title, is notified of a change of address by a person required to register under such program within or outside of such State, the State shall notify-

(A) the law enforcement officials of the jurisdiction to which, and the jurisdiction from which, the person has relocated; and

(B) the FBI.

(5) Verification

(A) Notification of local law enforcement officials

The FBI shall ensure that State and local law enforcement officials of the jurisdiction from which, and the State and local law enforcement officials of the jurisdiction to which, a person required to register under subsection (c) of this section relocates are notified of the new residence of such person.

(B) Notification of FBI

A State agency receiving notification under this subsection shall notify the FBI of the new residence of the offender.

(C) Verification

(i) State agencies

If a State agency cannot verify the address of or locate a person required to register with a minimally sufficient sexual offender registration program, including a program established under section 14071 of this title, the State shall immediately notify the FBI.

(ii) FBI

If the FBI cannot verify the address of or locate a person required to register under subsection (c) of this section or if the FBI receives notification from a State under clause (i), the FBI shall-

(I) classify the person as being in violation of the registration requirements of the national database; and

(II) add the name of the person to the National Crime Information Center Wanted person file and create a wanted persons record: Provided, That an arrest warrant which meets the requirements for entry into the file is issued in connection with the violation.

(h) Fingerprints

(1) FBI registration

For each person required to register under subsection (c) of this section, fingerprints shall be obtained and verified by the FBI or a local law enforcement official pursuant to regulations issued by the Attorney General.

(2) State registration systems

In a State that has a minimally sufficient sexual offender registration program, including a program established under section 14071 of this title, fingerprints required to be registered with the FBI under this section shall be obtained and verified in accordance with State requirements. The State agency responsible for registration shall ensure that the fingerprints and all other information required to be registered is registered with the FBI.

(i) Penalty

A person who is-

(1) required to register under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (g) of this section and knowingly fails to comply with this section;

(2) required to register under a sexual offender registration program in the person's State of residence and knowingly fails to register in any other State in which the person is employed, carries on a vocation, or is a student;

(3) described in section 4042(c)(4) of title 18, and knowingly fails to register in any State in which the person resides, is employed, carries on a vocation, or is a student following release from prison or sentencing to probation; or

(4) sentenced by a court martial for conduct in a category specified by the Secretary of Defense under section 115(a)(8)(C) of title I of Public Law 105–119, and knowingly fails to register in any State in which the person resides, is employed, carries on a vocation, or is a student following release from prison or sentencing to probation, shall, in the case of a first offense under this subsection, be imprisoned for not more than 1 year and, in the case of a second or subsequent offense under this subsection, be imprisoned for not more than 10 years.

(j) Release of information

The information collected by the FBI under this section shall be disclosed by the FBI-

(1) to Federal, State, and local criminal justice agencies for-

(A) law enforcement purposes; and

(B) community notification in accordance with section 14071(d)(3) ³ of this title; and

(2) to Federal, State, and local governmental agencies responsible for conducting employment-related background checks under section 5119a of this title.

(k) Notification upon release

Any State not having established a program described in subsection (a)(3) of this section must-

(1) upon release from prison, or placement on parole, supervised release, or probation, notify each offender who is convicted of an offense described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 14071(a)(1) of this title of their duty to register with the FBI; and

(2) notify the FBI of the release of each offender who is convicted of an offense described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 14071(a)(1) of this title.

(Pub. L. 103–322, title XVII, §170102, as added Pub. L. 104–236, §2(a), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3093 ; amended Pub. L. 105–119, title I, §115(a)(6), Nov. 26, 1997, 111 Stat. 2463 ; Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, §101(b) [title I, §123], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–50 , 2681-72.)

References in Text

Section 115(a)(8)(C) of title I of Public Law 105–119, referred to in subsec. (i)(4), is set out as a note under section 951 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Section 14071(d)(3) of this title, referred to in subsec. (j)(1)(B), was redesignated section 14071(e)(3) of this title by Pub. L. 105–119, title I, §115(a)(3), Nov. 26, 1997, 111 Stat. 2463 .

Amendments

1998-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–277, §101(b) [title I, §123(1)], struck out "or" after " 'employed,".

Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 105–277, §101(b) [title I, §123(2)], substituted "State sexual offender" for "minimally sufficient" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 105–277, §101(b) [title I, §123(3)], amended heading and text of subsec. (i) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "A person required to register under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (g) of this section or pursuant to section 14071(b)(7) of this title who knowingly fails to comply with this section shall-

"(1) in the case of a first offense-

"(A) if the person has been convicted of 1 offense described in subsection (b) of this section, be fined not more than $100,000; or

"(B) if the person has been convicted of more than 1 offense described in subsection (b) of this section, be imprisoned for up to 1 year and fined not more than $100,000; or

"(2) in the case of a second or subsequent offense, be imprisoned for up to 10 years and fined not more than $100,000."

1997-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–119, §115(a)(6)(A), substituted " 'predatory', 'employed, or carries on a vocation', and 'student' " for "and 'predatory' ".

Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Pub. L. 105–119, §115(a)(6)(B)(i), inserted "in a range of offenses specified by State law which is comparable to or exceeds that" before "described".

Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 105–119, §115(a)(6)(B)(ii), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: "requires that all information gathered under such program be transmitted to the FBI in accordance with subsection (g) of this section;".

Subsec. (a)(3)(C). Pub. L. 105–119, §115(a)(6)(B)(iii), amended subpar. (C) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (C) read as follows: "meets the requirements for verification under section 14071(b)(3) of this title; and".

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 105–119, §115(a)(6)(C), inserted "or pursuant to section 14071(b)(7) of this title" after "subsection (g) of this section" in introductory provisions.

Effective Date

For effective date of section, see section 10 of Pub. L. 104–236, as amended, set out as an Effective Date of 1996 Amendment note under section 14071 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 14071 of this title.

¹ So in original. Probably should be followed by "and".

² So in original.

³ See References in Text note below.