Alabama § 15-20A-21 - Adult Sex Offender - Community Notification.

§ 15-20A-21. Adult Sex Offender - Community Notification.

(a) Immediately upon the release of an adult sex offender or immediately upon notice of where the adult sex offender plans to establish, or has established a fixed residence, the following procedures shall apply:

(1) In the Cities of Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, and Montgomery, the chief of police shall notify all persons who have a legal residence within 1,000 feet of the declared fixed residence of the adult sex offender and all schools and childcare facilities within three miles of the declared fixed residence of the adult sex offender that the adult sex offender will be establishing or has established as his or her fixed residence.

(2) In all other cities in Alabama with a resident population of 5,000 or more, the chief of police, or if none, then the sheriff of the county, shall notify all persons who have a legal residence within 1,500 feet of the declared fixed residence of the adult sex offender and all schools and childcare facilities within three miles of the declared fixed residence of the adult sex offender that the adult sex offender will be establishing or has established his or her fixed residence.

(3) In all other municipalities with a resident population of less than 5,000, and in all unincorporated areas, the sheriff of the county in which the adult sex offender intends to reside shall notify all persons who have a legal residence within 2,000 feet of the declared fixed residence of the adult sex offender and all schools and childcare facilities within three miles of the declared fixed residence of the adult sex offender that the adult sex offender will be establishing or has established as his or her fixed residence.

(b) A community notification flyer shall be made by regular mail or hand delivered to all legal residences required by this section and include registration information pursuant to Section 15-20A-8. In addition, any other method reasonably expected to provide notification may be utilized, including, but not limited to, posting a copy of the notice in a prominent place at the office of the sheriff and at the police station closest to the declared fixed residence of the released adult sex offender, publicizing the notice in a local newspaper, posting electronically, including the Internet, or other means available.

(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, a sheriff, or a chief of police from providing community notification under the provisions of this chapter by regular mail, electronically, or by publication or periodically to persons whose legal residence is within the guidelines of this chapter or more than the applicable distance from the residence of an adult sex offender.

(d) When a homeless adult sex offender who lacks a fixed residence registers pursuant to Section 15-20A-12, notification shall be provided by posting a copy of the notice in a prominent place at the office of the sheriff and at the police station closest to the declared residence of the released adult sex offender, publicizing the notice in a local newspaper, or posting the notice electronically, including the Internet or other means available.