Mower County Sex Offender Registry

Mower County sex offenders register with the Sheriff's Office in Austin and are listed in Minnesota's statewide predatory offender registry operated by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The county sits in the southeastern corner of the state along the Iowa border. Residents can search sex offenders registered in Mower County using the BCA's free online tools, which cover all risk levels and update within 48 hours of any change. The Sheriff's Office handles local registration, address verification, and community notification for the county.

Mower County Sheriff's Office

The Mower County Sheriff's Office in Austin is the primary agency for sex offender registration in the county. When a person convicted of a qualifying offense moves to Mower County, they must appear at the Sheriff's Office to register. Deputies collect the required personal details, verify the home address, and send everything to the BCA to update the statewide registry. The office also conducts compliance checks to confirm that registrants are living and working where they reported.

Mower County's proximity to the Iowa border means the Sheriff's Office sometimes coordinates with Iowa law enforcement when an offender moves across state lines. If someone registered in an Iowa county moves to Austin or another Mower County community, they must register with the Sheriff's Office promptly. Questions about a specific registrant or concerns about compliance should be directed to the Sheriff's Office.

How to Find Sex Offenders in Mower County

The BCA Predatory Offender Registry at por.state.mn.us is the most complete tool for searching sex offenders in Mower County. Search by county, city, name, or zip code. Each result displays the registrant's name, photo, current address, and registration details. The BCA refreshes records within 48 hours of any update reported by local law enforcement, including the Mower County Sheriff's Office.

For Level 3 sex offenders, the DOC Public Registrant Search at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicregistrantsearch gives the fullest public profiles. Level 3 is the highest risk tier in Minnesota, and their records are meant for broad public access. The DOC community notification team can be reached at (651) 361-7340.

Because Mower County borders Iowa, some residents may also want to check the Iowa Sex Offender Registry. The National Sex Offender Public Website connects to registries in all 50 states from one place, making cross-border searches straightforward.

Predatory Offender Registration Requirements

Registration in Mower County follows Minnesota Statute 243.166. Anyone convicted of a qualifying sex offense must register with law enforcement in every county or city where they live, work, or attend school. In Mower County, that means registering at the Sheriff's Office in Austin. Failing to do so is a felony. So is providing false information during registration.

Registrants must report their primary home address, any other places where they regularly stay, their job location, and school if enrolled. Vehicle information is also required. Those without a stable address must check in with the Sheriff's Office on a regular basis and file a BCA form for persons lacking a primary address. The BCA holds the master record. Contact them at (651) 793-7070 for questions about a specific registration.

Standard registration runs for ten years after supervised release ends. The most serious offenses trigger lifetime registration. Missing a registration deadline or failing to report a change of address within the required window is a separate criminal offense.

Community Notification in Mower County

Minnesota law assigns risk levels to sex offenders through the process outlined in Minnesota Statute 244.052. When a person is released from prison and expected to live in Mower County, the state's End-of-Confinement Review Committee assigns a Level 1, 2, or 3 risk rating. That rating controls how much the public gets told.

Level 1 is low risk. Law enforcement and victims who requested notice are informed, but there is no public disclosure and these offenders do not appear in public searches. Level 2 is moderate risk. Schools, daycare centers, parks, and organizations that serve children or vulnerable adults near the offender's address receive notification. Level 3 means high risk. These cases get the most public attention. The DOC posts their profiles publicly, community meetings may be organized in Austin or other Mower County communities, and residents nearby can receive flyers, mail, or electronic alerts.

Note: Offenders released before January 1, 1997 may not have a formal risk level on file.

Additional Resources for Mower County Residents

The VINE notification system is free and available by calling 1-877-664-8463. Sign up to get an alert when a specific offender is released from custody or their supervision status changes. Alerts can reach you by phone, text, or email at any time. VINE is run by a national organization and is widely used in Minnesota.

The DOC community notification page gives detail on how Minnesota manages sex offender notification and what communities can expect when a high-risk offender moves in. Court records for sex offense cases handled by the Mower County District Court can be found using Minnesota Court Records Online.

The National Sex Offender Public Website allows Mower County residents to search registries across all 50 states, including Iowa, which borders the county to the south.

Cross-state searches through NSOPW help track offenders who move between Minnesota and neighboring states.

Nearby Counties

Mower County is surrounded by other southeastern Minnesota counties. Each has its own sheriff's office handling predatory offender registration under the same state rules.