Sex offenders have always lived in our communities. However, it wasn't until passage of the Community Protection Act of 1990 (which mandates sex offender registration and community notification) that law enforcement agencies routinely tracked where sex offenders were living.

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office is releasing information on registered sex offenders in Snohomish County in accordance with the Community Protection Act of 1990 and related statutes. This information is not intended to create alarm or panic. Our intent is to inform our citizens and to enhance community safety and awareness.

Citizen abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex offenders will not be tolerated. In fact, such abuse could end law enforcement's ability to notify the public. The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office believes the only person who wins if community notification ends is the sex offender, since sex offenders gain their power through secrecy.