How to Integrate the Sex Offender Search API: Complete Developer Guide

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On This Page

Base URL
Authentication
Search Modes
Query Parameters
Response Fields
Result Limits
Error Handling
Code Examples

Base URL

https://api.offenders.io/sexoffender

Authentication

Pass your API key as a query parameter key on every request.

GET /sexoffender?key={YOUR_API_KEY}&firstName=Alice

Get a free API key at offenders.io/pricing. First 50 requests/month are free.

💡 Using an AI assistant? You can also access full records via our MCP server with the same API key — no code needed.

Search Modes

Regular Search

Targeted lookups by name, DOB, address, zip code, or any combination. At least one query param is required.

GET /sexoffender?key={KEY}&firstName=Alice&zipcode=12345

Extensive Mode +$0.05/call

Add &mode=extensive to search through all known aliases on file. Ideal for state-compliance visitor screening (e.g. healthcare facilities).

GET /sexoffender?key={KEY}&firstName=Alice&lastName=Smith&mode=extensive

⚠ Slower response (~2s+). Has rate limit — not for batch processing.

GIS / Geospatial Search EXCLUSIVE

Find offenders within a radius of any GPS coordinate. The only API with native geospatial search. Can combine with name/city filters.

GET /sexoffender?key={KEY}&lat=30.967&lng=-91.116&radius=2&page=1

Query Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description	Example
`key`	string	Your API key (required)	`YOUR_API_KEY`
`firstName`	string	First name of offender	`Alice`
`lastName`	string	Last name of offender	`Smith`
`dob`	string	Date of birth	`1990-01-15`
`city`	string	Residence city	`San Francisco`
`state`	string	Residence state (full name)	`California`
`zipcode`	string	Residence zip code	`94104`
`lat`	number	Latitude (GIS search)	`30.967`
`lng`	number	Longitude (GIS search)	`-91.116`
`radius`	number	Radius in miles (default 1, max 100)	`5`
`mode`	string	Set to `extensive` for alias search	`extensive`
`prefixMatch`	string	Prefix match on `firstName` or `lastName`	`firstName`
`createdAtStart`	string	Filter by when the registrant first appeared in our system. Use this to create alerts for new offenders (e.g., new registrants in a zip code this month).	`2026-01-01`
`createdAtEnd`	string	Filter by first appearance in system	`2026-01-31`
`updatedAtStart`	string	Filter by last update in system	`2026-01-01`
`updatedAtEnd`	string	Filter by last update in system	`2026-01-31`
`faceId`	string	Face ID from Facial Search API	`4d8ade05...`
`uuid`	string	Pull single record by UUID	`807ff46d...`
`personUuid`	string	Pull single record by Person UUID	`83425e56...`
`page`	number	Page number (GIS search pagination)	`3`

Response Fields

Each offender object in the offenders array contains:

Field	Type	Description	Empty
`name`	string	Full name including middle name	`""`
`firstName`	string	First name	`""`
`lastName`	string	Last name	`""`
`aliases`	array	Known aliases (Extensive Mode only)	`[]`
`dob`	ISO date	Date of birth in UTC. Some states report year only (defaults to YYYY-01-01)	`null`
`address`	string	Residence street address	`""`
`city`	string	Residence city	`""`
`state`	string	Residence state (full name)	`""`
`zipcode`	string	Residence zip code	`""`
`locations`	array	All official addresses (Extensive Mode only)	`[]`
`sex`	string	Registered sex	`""`
`age`	string	Age	`""`
`eyeColor`	string	Eye color	`""`
`hairColor`	string	Hair color	`""`
`height`	string	Height	`""`
`weight`	string	Weight	`""`
`race`	string	Race	`""`
`Ethnicity`	string	Ethnicity	`""`
`marks`	string	Marks, tattoos, scars	`""`
`riskLevel`	string	Risk level	`""`
`crime`	string	Crimes committed for registration	`""`
`registrationDate`	ISO date	Date first registered	`null`
`offenderUrl`	string	URL to source state agency page	`null`
`offenderImageUrl`	string	Profile image URL	`null`
`lat`	number	Latitude of address	`-1`
`lng`	number	Longitude of address	`-1`
`jurisdiction`	string	Jurisdiction code (e.g. CA, WV)	`null`
`isAbsconder`	boolean	Known absconder status	`null`
`updatedAt`	ISO date	Last update timestamp	`null`
`uuid`	string	Unique record identifier	`""`
`content`	string	Pre-formatted HTML summary	`""`
`sources`	array	Data source references	`[]`
`page`	number	Current page (GIS only)	`1`
`totalPages`	number	Total pages (GIS only)	`1`
`stateData*`	object	Raw state agency data (experimental)	`null`

* Experimental fields are not guaranteed and may be removed without notice.

Full Example Response

//Response
{
  "offenders": [
    {
      "name": "First M Last",
      "firstName": "First",
      "firstName_nicknames": ["firsty", "firs", "1st"],
      "lastName": "Last",
      "aliases": [
        {
          "prefix": null,
          "givenName": "FIR",
          "middleName": null,
          "surName": "ST",
          "suffix": null
        },
        {
          "prefix": null,
          "givenName": "FIRST",
          "middleName": "M",
          "surName": "LA",
          "suffix": null
        },
        {
          "prefix": null,
          "givenName": "FIRST",
          "middleName": "NONAME",
          "surName": "LAST",
          "suffix": null
        },
        {
          "prefix": null,
          "givenName": "X",
          "middleName": null,
          "surName": "THE X",
          "suffix": null
        }
      ],
      "dob": "1900-10-01T00:00:00.000Z",
      "address": "10000 San Francisco Way",
      "city": "San Francisco",
      "state": "California",
      "zipcode": "94104",
      "locations": [
        {
          "name": null,
          "type": "R",
          "streetAddress": "10000 San Francisco Way",
          "city": "San Francisco",
          "county": "California",
          "state": "CA",
          "zipCode": "94104",
          "zipCodeExtension": null,
          "latitude": 50.12345,
          "longitude": -34.67890
        },
        {
          "name": null,
          "type": "E",
          "streetAddress": "200 FL DRIVE",
          "city": "Miami",
          "county": "Miami-Daide",
          "state": "FL",
          "zipCode": "33129",
          "zipCodeExtension": null,
          "latitude": 34.67890,
          "longitude": -50.12345
        }
      ],
      "sex": "Male",
      "age": "123",
      "offenderUrl": "https://meganslaw.ca.gov/OffenderDisplay.aspx?search...",
      "offenderImageUrl": "https://meganslaw.ca.gov/NSOPWPI.ashx?f=...&NSOPRFlag=True",
      "jurisdiction": "CA",
      "isAbsconder": false,
      "isPredator": true,
      "eyeColor": "Green",
      "hairColor": "Brown",
      "height": "5'11\"",
      "weight": "200 lbs.",
      "race": "White",
      "marks": "tattoo on r_arm (cross / cover the cross with tribal symbol); tattoo on l_arm (pic of a lady); tattoo on l_arm (something); ...",
      "riskLevel": "2",
      "crime": "Crime:  14:81 - Indecent Behavior with Juveniles; Juvenile victim, Conviction date:  2199-09-09, Jurisdiction:  California",
      "registrationDate": "2012-12-31T00:00:00.000Z",
      "content": "&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Zip Code: &lt;/b&gt;94104&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sex: &lt;/b&gt;Male&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Age: &lt;/b&gt;123...",
      "lat": 50.12345,
      "lng": -34.67890,
      "sources": [
        {
          "name": "National Sex Offender Public Website",
          "id": "nsopw",
          "url": "https://www.nsopw.gov/"
        },
        {
          "name": "New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services",
          "id": "criminaljustice.ny.gov",
          "url": "https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/"
        }
      ],
      "updatedAt": "2026-03-05T21:35:42.936Z",
      "uuid": "5893a310-37ce-58d8-b101-39e76a60e94a"
    }
  ]
}

Result Limits

Regular Search: 50 records max. Filter by city or zip for better results.
GIS Search: Radius defaults to 1 mi (max 100 mi). 50 records per page — use page and totalPages to paginate.

Error Handling

Code	Meaning	Example Response
400	Bad Request	`{"error":"Invalid input params","reason":"no query params presented"}`
401	Unauthorized — missing or invalid API key	`{"code":401,"message":"Missing API key"}`
405	Method Not Allowed

Code Examples

JavaScript / Node.js

const res = await fetch(
  `https://api.offenders.io/sexoffender?key=${API_KEY}&zipcode=94104`
)
const { offenders } = await res.json()
console.log(offenders[0].name, offenders[0].city)

Python

import requests

r = requests.get("https://api.offenders.io/sexoffender", params={
    "key": API_KEY,
    "firstName": "Alice",
    "zipcode": "94104"
})
offenders = r.json()["offenders"]

cURL

curl "https://api.offenders.io/sexoffender?key=YOUR_KEY&lat=30.967&lng=-91.116&radius=2"

Batch Processing

Need to process thousands of records? Use our web-based batch tool at batch.offenders.io — upload a CSV with First Name, Last Name, and optional DOB. See the Batch Processing Guide for details.

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