HOUSTON – There are at least 75,710 sex offenders living in the Lone Star State, according to data analyzed by SafeHome.org.
CLOSER LOOK: The hidden dangers of lapsed sex offender registrations
Recommended Videos
In Southeast Texas, nearly 15,952 registered sex offenders have been identified, based on KPRC 2′s analysis of publicly available data.
These individuals reside in neighborhoods throughout the Houston area, meaning some residents may unknowingly live near a registered sex offender.
To keep communities informed, the Texas Department of Public Safety sends postcards to those living within a one-mile radius whenever a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhood.
Sex Offenders Living In SE Texas
Here’s a breakdown of where those sex offenders live throughout SE Texas. (Data via TxDPS - valid as of February 18, 2025):
| County | Registered Sex Offender |
|---|---|
| Austin | 80 |
| Brazoria | 672 |
| Calhoun | 81 |
| Chambers | 111 |
| Colorado | 76 |
| Fort Bend | 702 |
| Galveston | 763 |
| Harris | 10,323 |
| Jackson | 88 |
| Liberty | 417 |
| Matagorda | 103 |
| Montgomery | 1,062 |
| Polk | 302 |
| San Jacinto | 175 |
| Trinity | 78 |
| Walker | 531 |
| Waller | 133 |
| Washington | 90 |
| Wharton | 165 |
This data is updated regularly by the Texas Department of Public Safety and will change.
Who Has To Register As A Sex Offender In Texas?
Every person registered on the sex offender list is ordered to do so after being convicted of a qualifying crime in Texas.
A “reportable conviction or adjudication,” as defined by Article 62.001(5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, includes a range of serious offenses, regardless of appeal status.
These offenses encompass violations such as:
- Continuous sexual abuse of a child
- Bestiality
- Indecency with a child
- Sexual assault
- Aggravated sexual assault
- Prohibited sexual conduct
- Aggravated promotion of prostitution
- Compelling prostitution
- Sexual performance by a child
- Possession or promotion of child pornography
- Certain cases of prostitution
Additionally, aggravated kidnapping with intent to sexually abuse, burglary with intent to commit a related felony, and unlawful restraint or kidnapping involving a minor are included. Attempts, conspiracies, or solicitations to commit these offenses, as well as similar violations under other state, federal, or international laws, also fall under this definition, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Check If A Sex Offender Lives Near You
There are several ways that you can check to see if someone is a sexual offender or if a sex offender lives in your neighborhood.
RELATED: Can sex offenders live next door to schools in Texas? Here’s what the law says
If you have their name, you can run them through the Texas Department of Public Safety database that keeps all sex offenders in the state.
To search even further, you can run a similar search through the national database, the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website. Here, you can also type your address to see the sex offenders who live within a certain radius of your home.
