Gun Offender Registry to Help Law Enforcement Address Gun Violence

CLEVELAND – The City of Cleveland announced today that a gun offender registry established under Codified Ordinance 931-14 Chapter 628 now requires any person who resides in the City of Cleveland and is convicted of a gun offense to submit a gun offender registration form to the Division of Police within five days of conviction of said offense or after release of imposed imprisonment or treatment.

“The gun offender registry will help law enforcement officers understand where individuals convicted of a gun offense are living in the City of Cleveland,” said Director of Public Safety Michael McGrath. “This information combined with crime data analysis and partnerships like VGRIP will give the Division of Police a greater ability to address gun violence throughout the city.”

Offenders submitting a registration form to the Division of Police will provide the following information:

• Name, date of birth, sex
• Current home address
• Copy of driver’s license
• Current photo of said offender
• Description of gun offense
• Name, address, phone number of offender’s workplace
• Name, address, phone number of educational institution offender attends
• Any other information Safety Director finds reasonably necessary

A gun offense is considered to be a violation of an Ohio Revised Code section or equivalent City of Cleveland Codified Ordinance section involving a firearm. The registry does not apply to any person who can demonstrate that the gun offense conviction was set aside, reversed, or the person was adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent for an offense that would not constitute a gun offense committed by an adult.

Offenders must initially register in person with the Division of Police. Registration forms will be available for pick-up and drop-off at the Division of Police reception area on the first floor of the Justice Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. After the initial registration, the offender must register in person with the Division no later than one year after the date of the initial registration for a period of four years.

Any change in information required by the registry must be updated with the Division within five days. Any person who fails to comply with any of the registry requirements is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

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