York County Sex Offender Registry
The York County Sheriff's Office operates a dedicated Sex Offender Registry Unit at the Moss Justice Center, located at 1675 1G York Highway, York, SC 29745. The unit can be reached by phone at (803) 628-3036. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Residents can search the public registry at the York County SORT portal, which displays all active registrants with current addresses, photos, and offense details. York County is one of the fastest-growing counties in South Carolina, making an up-to-date registry an important community resource.
York County Quick Facts
York County Sheriff's Office Sex Offender Registry Unit
The York County Sheriff's Office Sex Offender Registry Unit is part of the Moss Justice Center at 1675 1G York Highway in York, SC 29745. The unit phone number is (803) 628-3036. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. All in-person registrations, verifications, and address updates must be completed during these hours unless the unit makes other arrangements.
The York County Sheriff's Office Registry Unit page includes direct information about the unit, contact details, and guidance for registrants and the public. The office also maintains a list of sex offenders in York County who have failed to register or update their information. That Wanted Offenders list is published publicly and includes individuals with active warrants for registry violations.
Residents can also access quick links for the registry on the Sheriff's Office website, including direct access to the state's SLED SORT portal filtered for York County.
How to Search York County Sex Offender Records
The York County SORT portal is the primary tool for searching registered sex offenders in York County. SORT is the Sex Offender Registry Tool maintained by SLED. Search by name, zip code, or street address to find registrants and view their current information.
Each result includes the registrant's full name, listed address, current photo, date of birth, physical description, any known aliases, and the offense that required registration. The display also shows the county of conviction and sentencing date.
For a broader statewide search, use scor.sled.sc.gov. That portal covers all 46 South Carolina counties. It is useful when looking for someone who recently moved to York County from elsewhere in the state. For cross-state searches, the National Sex Offender Public Website links to every state registry and covers registrants who may have moved from another state into York County.
Note: The Wanted Offenders list maintained by the York County Sheriff's Office identifies individuals who have outstanding warrants for registry non-compliance and may still be in the area.
Who Must Register as a Sex Offender in York County
South Carolina Code Section 23-3-430 lists every offense that triggers a registration requirement. Criminal sexual conduct in the first, second, and third degrees are all covered. So are lewd acts on a minor, sexual battery of a minor under specific circumstances, offenses involving child sexual abuse material, and related crimes. The statute also captures certain attempted offenses where the underlying crime would have required registration.
Registration applies regardless of age at the time of conviction. A conviction as a juvenile for a qualifying offense may still require registration upon adulthood. There is no blanket age-based exemption under South Carolina law.
Any person who spends 30 or more days in South Carolina is treated as a state resident under Section 23-3-430. This rule affects people who split time between states. If someone lives in Charlotte, North Carolina but spends more than 30 consecutive days in York County, they must register locally. York County borders North Carolina, and this cross-border residency situation arises more often here than in inland counties.
Registration Deadlines and Out-of-State Transfers
Release from incarceration triggers a one-business-day deadline to register. A sentence of probation or suspended sentence similarly triggers registration within one business day of sentencing. These windows are firm. There is no grace period and no automatic extension.
People convicted in other states who move to York County must register with the Sheriff's Office Registry Unit within 10 days of establishing residency. South Carolina maps their out-of-state conviction to the equivalent in-state offense for classification. York County's position on the North Carolina border means a meaningful number of registrants arrive from out of state each year.
Address changes within the county must be reported within three business days. Moving to a new county in South Carolina requires registration with that county's sheriff's office within 10 days. Each of these obligations is enforceable as a separate criminal violation.
Three-Tier System and Verification Requirements
South Carolina uses three tiers to classify sex offenders by risk level. Each tier carries a different verification schedule enforced by the York County Sheriff's Office registry unit.
Tier I offenders verify their registration once per year. Tier II offenders verify every six months. Tier III offenders must verify in person every 90 days for life. The 90-day schedule for Tier III has no end date. It continues for as long as the person is alive and living in the state.
Tier assignment is based on the offense and set at the time of initial registration. Most registrants remain in the same tier throughout the duration of their registration period. Missing a scheduled verification appointment is a separate criminal offense from the original registration violation.
Public Information and Section 23-3-490
State law at Section 23-3-490 sets out what information the public registry must display. For York County registrants, that includes the full legal name, any aliases, date of birth, current address, height, weight, hair and eye color, current photograph, tattoo and identifying mark descriptions, and the specific offense behind the registration. The county of conviction and sentencing date are also shown.
This disclosure framework reflects a deliberate legislative choice to give the public meaningful information. A name alone would not allow a resident to identify a person in their neighborhood. The combination of photo, physical description, and current address is designed to be actionable.
Access to this data is free and open. No registration or login is required to use the SORT portal. The South Carolina FOIA statute at Section 30-4-10 governs additional public records requests beyond what the registry displays.
Residency Restrictions and School Zones in York County
Section 23-3-535 prohibits certain registered sex offenders from residing within 1,000 feet of a school, licensed daycare, or public park. This restriction applies only to registrants whose qualifying offense involved a minor victim. It does not apply to every person on the registry.
York County has experienced rapid residential growth, and the number of schools, parks, and childcare centers has expanded along with it. This growth creates more restricted zones and makes compliance monitoring an active part of the registry unit's work. Probation officers and Sheriff's Office staff check residential compliance as part of regular supervision.
If you believe a qualifying registrant is living within 1,000 feet of a restricted location, contact the York County Sheriff's Office or call the registry unit at (803) 628-3036 during office hours.
Note: Residency restriction violations can result in forced removal from the address and additional criminal charges.
Penalties for Non-Compliance in York County
Failure to register, missing a verification, giving a false address, or failing to report a move within the required window are all criminal offenses. A first conviction carries up to 90 days in jail. A second brings a mandatory minimum of one year. A third or subsequent offense is a felony with a sentence of up to five years in prison.
The York County Sheriff's Office publishes its Wanted Offenders list, which includes sex offenders who have failed to register or update their information and have outstanding warrants. That list can be viewed at the Wanted Offenders page on the Sheriff's Office website. Residents who recognize someone on that list are encouraged to contact law enforcement.
SLED tracks non-compliant registrants statewide. If a York County registrant cannot be located, SLED flags them in the SORT portal and law enforcement initiates an active search.
York County SLED SORT Sex Offender Registry
Public registry data for York County is accessible through the York County SORT portal, managed by SLED and updated as registrants report changes or officers confirm information.
The portal is available 24 hours a day and requires no account or login to access.
York County Sheriff's Office Registry Unit
The York County Sheriff's Office Sex Offender Registry Unit at the Moss Justice Center handles all in-person registration, verification, and compliance matters for York County registrants.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and the unit can be reached at (803) 628-3036.
SAVIN and Victim Notification Services
South Carolina's SAVIN program, the Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification system, is available to York County residents who want automatic updates on a specific registrant's status. SAVIN sends notifications when an offender is released, transferred, or experiences a change in supervision status. The service is free and open to anyone, not just direct crime victims.
For broader guidance on the registry system and sex offender laws, the South Carolina Attorney General's criminal division provides public resources and handles state-level oversight of registry compliance. The AG's office can be contacted when a case involves issues that go beyond what local enforcement can address.
Cities in York County
York County includes several cities, including Rock Hill and Fort Mill, which each have dedicated city pages for sex offender registry information. Rock Hill is the largest city in the county, and Fort Mill has grown rapidly as part of the Charlotte metro area.
Nearby Counties
York County borders several South Carolina counties and sits directly on the North Carolina state line. Residents near county boundaries should check adjacent registries as well.