Nolan County Sex Offender Registry

The Texas DPS public registry lets you find registered sex offenders in Nolan County, including the city of Sweetwater. The Nolan County Sheriff's Office handles registrations for people in unincorporated areas, while the Sweetwater Police Department covers city residents. All data flows into the statewide DPS database and can be searched for free by name, address, or zip code.

Nolan County Sheriff Registration

The Nolan County Sheriff's Office in Sweetwater is the registration authority for sex offenders living in unincorporated parts of Nolan County. Sweetwater is the county seat and the largest city. People who live inside Sweetwater register with the Sweetwater Police Department. The sheriff handles everyone outside city limits in the rural areas of the county.

Nolan County is a West Texas county along Interstate 20, located between Abilene and Midland. Sweetwater is the county's main population center and is known for its wind energy industry. When someone registers in Nolan County, their data is submitted to the Texas DPS and added to the statewide registry. Anyone moving to Nolan County from another Texas county or from another state must register within seven days of establishing their Nolan County address. That includes people released from TDCJ who are reporting to a Nolan County address.

Call the Nolan County Sheriff's Office to confirm registration hours and required documents before visiting Sweetwater.

DPS Registry Search for Nolan County

The Texas DPS maintains the public sex offender registry at sor.dps.texas.gov. The search is free and available to anyone. To find offenders in Nolan County, search by zip code, city name, or a person's name. Results include the registrant's name, photo, current address, and the offense that triggered their registration requirement. Risk level designations appear in results when they have been assigned.

The DPS registry draws from data submitted by the Nolan County Sheriff and the Sweetwater Police Department. Updates happen regularly as agencies submit new registrations and address changes. DPS notes that name searches may return partial or near-match results. Fingerprint verification is the only definitive way to confirm a specific identity. The DPS portal is the most reliable source for Nolan County sex offender data.

The image below shows the Texas DPS sex offender registration program page, which governs how Nolan County registration data is collected and published.

The DPS program ensures all Nolan County registration data is collected and made available to the public through the statewide registry.

Chapter 62 Registration Requirements

Sex offender registration in Texas is governed by Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. This law applies throughout Nolan County. It defines which offenses trigger registration, sets the timeline for registering, and specifies verification requirements. Chapter 62 also sets penalties for those who fail to register or miss a verification deadline.

Most people required to register must do so within seven days of moving to a new Texas address. Annual verification is required for most registrants. Higher-risk offenders must verify every 90 days. Missing a deadline is a criminal offense in Texas and can result in additional charges. Registration duration depends on the offense and the person's criminal history. Some registrations are for life. Others are for a defined period. People convicted in another state who move to Nolan County must still register in Texas within seven days under Chapter 62.

• Register within 7 days of establishing a new Texas address
• Report in person to the sheriff or city police where you live
• Provide current address, photo, fingerprints, and offense details
• Annual verification for most registrants
• Higher-risk offenders verify every 90 days
• Failure to register results in additional criminal charges

Court Records in Nolan County

The Nolan County District Clerk maintains records for felony criminal cases tried in the county. Sex offense prosecutions are part of those public records. Files include charges, verdict, sentence, and any registration orders from the court. You can request records at the courthouse in Sweetwater. These are public records accessible to anyone.

Court records differ from the DPS registry. The registry shows current registration status. Court records show the full history of the criminal case, including the filing, the trial, and the outcome. Together these two sources give a more complete view of someone's sex offense history in Nolan County than either one alone can provide.

Resources for Nolan County Residents

The Texas Attorney General's office provides statewide information on sex offender registry enforcement, victim services, and compliance. For Nolan County residents who have concerns about a non-compliant registrant, contacting the AG's office or the local sheriff is the best option. The AG also handles civil commitment cases for the most dangerous offenders under Texas law.

The National Sex Offender Public Website covers all 50 states. Because Nolan County is along a major interstate corridor with traffic from multiple states, the national site can help with cross-state background searches. Texas DPS is the most accurate source for current Texas registrations. The national site helps when histories span multiple states. Both tools together give the most complete search result.