Idaho sex offender laws are among the toughest in the US. The Gem State is also among the dozen US states that outlaw consensual anal and oral sex between adults. Having a sex offender status means a lifetime registration and an array of restrictions. Below you can find a complete list of the laws sexual offenders in Idaho must follow sans the legal jargon.
*This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to serve as legal advice. Please consult an attorney if you need to obtain legal advice.
Idaho Sex Offender Registration Laws
Sex offender statistics show that Idaho has 5,040 registered offenders as of 2022, which translates into 274 offenders per 100,000 residents.
Idaho defines a sex offender as any individual convicted of an offense listed in the Idaho code section 18-8304 or similar crimes under the laws of another jurisdiction. The following crimes require sex offender registration in Idaho:
- assault or battery with the attempt to commit rape, crime against nature, or lascivious or lewd sexual conduct with a minor
- lewd sexual conduct with a minor
- murder committed while perpetrating rape
- rape
- incest
- ritualized abuse of a minor
- sexual exploitation of a minor
- sexual battery of a 16- or 17-year-old child
- forcible sexual penetration with a foreign object
- enticing a minor online
- indecent exposure, excluding misdemeanor
- possessing sexually exploitative material excluding for commercial purposes
- a second conviction of video voyeurism
- first-degree kidnapping with a sexual motivation
- second-degree kidnapping of an unrelated child
- sexual contact with an incarcerated person
- crime against nature
Idaho sex offenders are required to provide the following information upon registration:
- full legal name and aliases
- date of birth
- social security number
- physical description
- details related to criminal convictions, including the offense that got them on the registry
- location of each jail, hospital, or penal institution the offender visited regarding each offense
- address of current residence or physical description of the current residence
- place of employment
- school or college enrollment
- current photo
- fingerprints and palm prints
Unlike the majority of states that have adopted a tiered system to categorize offenders, Idaho doesn’t recognize sex offender tiers but classifies offenders into the following categories:
- registered sex offender (as explained above)
- violent sexual predator (an individual who has committed one or more of the above-listed crimes and has been designated high-risk and likely to re-offend by the Sex Offender Classification Board; these individuals are subject to electronic monitoring during their probation or parole)
- juvenile sex offender (individual younger than 18 years who has been convicted as an adult for one or more of the crimes mentioned above)
The lack of a tiered system in the Idaho sex offender laws puts all sex offenders into one box regardless of the severity of their crimes. Sex offenders who are required to register must report annually, verify their address quarterly after the initial registration, and pay an annual registration fee of $80.
According to Idaho juvenile registration sex offender laws, juveniles convicted as adults must follow the same Idaho sex offender registry laws as adult sex offenders. Violent sexual predators must register quarterly and pay a fee of $50 upon the initial registration and $10 upon each quarterly registration. They must also verify their address every 30 days. All sex offenders in Idaho are required to register for life. In addition, offenders must also register:
- within two days of changing their address
- within two days of moving into Idaho
- within two days of entering any county
According to gun laws for sex offenders in Idaho, most sex offenders lose the right to own a firearm when convicted. Other felons may also be subject to this rule depending on their crime.
Removal From the Idaho Sexual Offender Registry
Sexual offenders in Idaho can petition the court for relief of registration obligations after 10 years on the Idaho sexual offender registry and only if their crime is not classified as an aggravated offense under Sections 18-8303 and 18-8310 of the Idaho statute. They must also meet the following requirements:
- have completed probation without revocation
- don’t have any pending criminal felonies or charges
- have completed a sex offender treatment
- haven’t re-offended during their registration period
Sex Offender Notification Laws
Sex offender laws in Idaho don’t have any additional community notification channel except the Idaho sex offender registry list, where the public can access information about registered sex offenders, violent sex predators, and non-compliant sex offenders. According to Megan’s Law in Idaho, the following offender’s data is available for public view:
- name, nicknames, and prior names
- date of birth
- addresses of all residences, and if there isn’t a fixed residence, information about the area where the offender lives (if the offender violates the registration requirements and can’t be located, the website should note)
- temporary lodging information and the period the offender expects to stay at the temporary lodging place (stays of seven or more days outside the registered permanent residence are considered temporary lodging)
- the address of any educational institution where the offender is a student or intends to attend
- current photo
- physical description
- criminal history, including the sex offense that placed them on the registry and place of convictions
The following information is not available to the public:
- the identity of the victim
- offender’s SSN
- arrests that haven’t resulted in a conviction
- internet identifiers
- information regarding passports and immigration documents
- people associated with the offender, whether family, employers, employees, roommates, etc.
Idaho residents can also request to view public sex offenders’ records from the agencies that create the records. If the records were made in another state, the rules of that state would apply. Additionally, these records can be accessed in structured, easy-to-understand reports via people search websites.
Idaho and every other state have rules that protect sex offenders from harassment, meaning anyone using the information available on the Idaho sex offender registry map to harass or harm a registrant will be subject to criminal charges.
Idaho Sex Offender Residency Restrictions
Idaho sex offenders are not allowed to reside or loiter within 500 feet of a school or a daycare facility unless they have established residence there before July 1, 2006. Idaho state sex offender housing laws also prohibit them from living with more than one registered sex offender in a dwelling unless in specific circumstances, which the judge could further determine.
Landlords are reluctant to rent to registered sex offenders. As a result, they rely on tenant screening to select reliable tenants. When they see a sex offender status on the reports, they typically decide to look for another candidate. For this reason, sex offenders have greater chances of ending up in lower-income areas, which creates an unequal distribution of criminals in those areas.
Pedophile statistics show there are 36 underage victims per 100,000 residents under 18 in Idaho, which places this state among the 10 states with the lowest child sex abuse rates. Unlike some states where offenders are prohibited from visiting parks and other places where children commonly gather, Idaho doesn’t have such a law.
There are also registered sex offender Halloween laws in Idaho that require offenders on probation or parole to keep their lights out on Halloween and not give treats to children. The switched-off lights are expected to signal that no one is home; therefore, children would skip the house.
Idaho Sex Offender Work Restrictions
Idaho registered sex offender laws prohibit offenders from applying for or accepting job positions in daycare centers and group and family daycare facilities. They also can’t volunteer at these institutions nor remain on premises while children are present, but they can still drop them off and pick them up.
Owners of such institutions must perform criminal background checks on all prospective employees. If they knowingly employ a sex offender, they will be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Employers across multiple industries also partner with employment background check companies to verify applicants, leaving Idaho sex offenders with few chances to secure a stable job.
Incarceration statistics suggest that felons have a tough time finding stable jobs even in less-regulated sectors, often forcing them to look for out-of-state seasonal jobs or accept the lowest-paying positions.
Idaho sex offender laws for visitors require those who work in coaching, counseling, teaching, or any other roles that involve working with or supervising minors to register before their employment, no matter how long they intend to stay in Idaho. According to Idaho sex offender rules, any job that involves contact with minors requires early registration.
Idaho Sex Offender Travel Restrictions
Background check companies in Idaho work hard to keep employers informed of their sex offender status, which often forces Idaho offenders to travel for seasonal work or relocate to states with less strict sex offender laws.
Any sex offender visiting Idaho must register within two days of entering the county and moving into the state. Likewise, if an Idaho sex offender moves to another jurisdiction (state), they must register within two days of the change. Moreover, they won’t be removed from the Idaho sex offender registry list until they complete the registration in the new jurisdiction.
Idaho sex offenders can obtain a passport and travel internationally under specific conditions. The Idaho sex offender requirements follow SORNA regarding international trips of sex offenders, which include reporting the travel information to the registration office at least 21 days before the departure date.
Failure to Register on the Idaho Sexual Offender Registry Penalties
When it comes to the Idaho code, failure to register as a sex offender is treated as a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to $5000 in fines. Examples include failing to report on schedule, failure to verify address, or providing false information.
For offenders on probation, another supervised release, or suspension from incarceration who fail to register, Idaho state sex offender laws demand the probation, supervised release, or suspension to be revoked, and the offender to serve the original sentence.
Idaho Sex Offender Laws FAQ
How do offenders get off the sex offender registry in Idaho?
Sexual offenders in Idaho are required to register for life, but some may petition the court for removal after 10 years on the registry. To qualify, offenders:
- must not be convicted of a crime classified as an aggravated offense under Sections 18-8303 and 18-8310 of the Idaho statute
- must have completed their probation without committing a new crime
- must not have pending felonies or charges
- must have undergone and completed a treatment program for sex offenders
- must not have committed a new crime during their registration period.
Do sex offenders have to register for life in Idaho?
Yes, but they can apply for relief of sex offender registration after 10 years on the registry if they qualify.
How much does it cost to register as a sex offender in Idaho?
According to Idaho sex offender laws, sex offenders must pay $80 annually, while violent sexual predators must pay $50 on the first registration and $10 on quarterly registrations.
