Brevard County Sex Offender Registry

Brevard County SORT Unit Overview

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office operates a dedicated unit for sex offender oversight called the Sexual Offender Registration and Tracking Unit, commonly known as the SORT Unit. This team is responsible for the registration of all sexual predators and offenders in Brevard County. That means every person convicted of a qualifying sexual offense who lives in the county, whether permanently or temporarily, must work through the SORT Unit to meet their legal obligations.

The SORT Unit does more than just process paperwork. The unit also provides community notification and address verification of offenders and predators, and it investigates violations of the registration and statutory requirements. When an offender fails to appear, moves without notice, or provides false information, SORT investigators are the ones who follow up. They have the authority to check on registrants in the field, verify addresses, and refer non-compliant individuals for criminal prosecution.

Community notification is another key function. The SORT Unit coordinates with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to make sure that Brevard County registrations are reflected in the public statewide database. The Florida Offender Alert system can notify residents when a new sex offender or predator registers in their area.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office provides information about the SORT Unit and registration requirements on its website.

Residents can use the BCSO website as a starting point and then cross-reference data with the FDLE statewide sex offender search for the most current results.

Where to Register - SORT Unit Location

All registrations in Brevard County take place at the Jail Complex, not at a standard sheriff's substation or office. This is important. Do not show up at a precinct and expect to complete registration there. The SORT Unit operates exclusively at the location below, and effective December 7, 2020, all registration fingerprints are taken at the Jail Complex.

The SORT Unit shares the Jail Complex campus at 860 Camp Rd in Cocoa. Plan your travel accordingly. The Cocoa area is in central Brevard County, so residents in the far south end near Sebastian or the far north near Titusville may have a significant drive. Show up during the posted hours and call the registration line at (321) 206-9433 if you have any questions before arriving.

The BCSO Criminal Investigative Services division, which includes the SORT Unit, can provide additional information about investigation and compliance functions.

Details about the SORT Unit's structure, investigative role, and contact options are available on the BCSO Criminal Investigative Services page.

What to Bring to Registration

Coming prepared saves time and avoids a second trip. The SORT Unit requires valid identification at every registration appointment. A current Florida driver's license or state-issued ID card is the standard form of identification. If your ID is expired or from another state and you have not yet updated it, call ahead to ask what alternative documents will be accepted.

For a first-time registration in Brevard County, bring any court disposition paperwork related to the conviction, including sentencing documents. These records help SORT staff verify the nature of the offense and determine the correct registration tier and reporting schedule. If you were convicted in another state and have moved to Florida, bring the out-of-state records. Florida will use them to place you in the correct category under state law, which affects how often you must report and what restrictions apply to you.

At the appointment, SORT staff will photograph you and collect fingerprints. They will also document your current address, vehicle information, and any online identifiers, including email addresses and social media handles. Keep this information current. Any change needs to be reported within 48 hours, not at the next scheduled visit.

Lifetime Registration Requirements

Florida does not have a time-limited registration system for most offenders. Under Florida Statute § 943.0435, registered sex offenders must maintain registration for the duration of their life in most cases. There is no point at which the obligation simply ends on its own. The law is explicit on this: "I MUST maintain registration for the duration of my life."

Within 48 hours of establishing or maintaining a residence in Florida, or upon release from custody and/or supervision of the Department of Corrections, the Department of Children and Family Services, or the Department of Juvenile Justice, every registrant must report in person to the local sheriff's office to register their temporary, transient, or permanent address. The requirement does not wait for the person to settle in. It begins the moment they establish any form of residence in the state.

The statute also requires honesty. Knowingly providing false registration information, whether by act or by deliberate omission, is a third-degree felony under Florida law. This applies at every stage, including initial registration, re-registration visits, and any updates provided between scheduled appointments. There is no partial compliance. The law treats an omission the same as a false statement.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

The SORT Unit enforces registration requirements aggressively, and the penalties for failure are serious. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is clear on this point: failure to report as required is a third-degree felony. In Florida, a third-degree felony carries a maximum sentence of five years in state prison. That means a person who simply misses a required registration appointment faces potential prison time, even if the underlying sex offense was resolved years ago.

Under Florida Statute § 775.21, sexual predators face an elevated set of obligations. They must report to the sheriff's office four times per year rather than the standard two. They are subject to active community notification, including door-to-door notification in some cases. Predators who fail to appear for scheduled check-ins are subject to the same felony charges as other registrants, but enforcement tends to be faster and more aggressive given the higher risk classification.

SORT investigators do not wait for offenders to come to them. The unit actively verifies addresses and conducts compliance checks in the field. If an offender is not at the registered address, the investigation process begins quickly. Being listed as non-compliant in the FDLE database makes it harder to find housing and creates ongoing law enforcement scrutiny. The only way to avoid these consequences is to stay fully current with all reporting requirements.

Travel and Out-of-State Notification Requirements

Brevard County registrants who plan to leave Florida, even temporarily, face specific legal duties around notification. If you intend to establish a permanent, temporary, or transient residence in another state, jurisdiction, or country other than Florida, you must report in person to the SORT Unit at the Brevard County Jail Complex within 48 hours before the date you plan to leave the state. That is a very short window and requires advance planning.

The timeline is different for international travel involving a stay of five days or more. If the intended residence outside the United States will last five days or longer, the registrant must report to the SORT Unit at least 21 days before the planned departure. The 21-day requirement gives authorities time to notify the destination country through the proper federal channels. Missing this window is not a minor procedural issue. Failing to provide the required notification before leaving the country constitutes a violation of state law and can result in felony charges upon return.

These travel rules apply regardless of the reason for travel. Work, family visits, vacations, and medical trips are all subject to the same reporting obligations. If your plans are uncertain, report early and update the information as details become clear. The SORT Unit's registration line at (321) 206-9433 can answer specific questions about travel notification procedures.

Cities in Brevard County

Brevard County stretches along Florida's Space Coast. The two largest cities with sex offender registry data available are listed below.

• Palm Bay
• Melbourne

Nearby Counties

Brevard County shares borders with several counties to the north and west. Each has its own sheriff's office and registration process under Florida's statewide framework.

• Volusia County
• Seminole County
• Orange County
• Osceola County
• Indian River County