North Carolina Sex Offender Records

What is a Sex Offender?

The term “sex offender” is a legal term often used to refer to persons who are guilty of sex crimes or offenses. Sex crimes include rape, sexual assault, molestation, and others. In North Carolina, the state courts mete out punishments to facilitators of these crimes and protect the public from such persons.

Living with a sex offense conviction can be a life-changing experience. There are limitations on the activities of sex offenders, and the state requires such offenders to register certain data, which the public will then have access to. However, members of the public are not to use this information to harass or intimidate a registered offender.

Who is Considered a Sex Offender in North Carolina?

The North Carolina General Statutes do not expressly define the term “sex offender.” But Article 27 describes a sexually violent predator as a person convicted of a sexually violent offense and who suffers from a personality disorder or mental abnormality that makes the person likely to engage in sexually violent offenses directed at other persons to victimize such persons. It also describes a sexually violent offense as a violation of any of the offenses deemed as such under the statutes.

What are the Different Types of Sex Offenses in North Carolina?

Sex offenses in North Carolina are provided for in Chapter 14 of the North Carolina Statutes, and they are:

1st Degree Forcible Rape: § 14-27.21 defines the offense of 1st-degree forcible rape as one that occurs where an accused person engages in vaginal intercourse with another person, against the will of the person and in the following circumstances:

The accused person uses or threatens to use a deadly weapon in committing the crime
The accused person inflicts injury upon the victim or another individual
The accused persons had an accomplice or accomplices

In North Carolina, this offense is a Class B1 felony. Upon conviction, a person convicted of this offense has no rights of inheritance or custody or any other rights over any child born due to the act.

2nd Degree Forcible Rape: Under § 14-27.22, an accused person commits the offense of 2nd-degree forcible rape, where such a person engages in the act of vaginal intercourse with another person, in the following circumstances:

Where the accused person uses force and does the act against the will of the victim
Where the victim has a mental disability or is mentally incapacitated or physically helpless, and the accused person knows of the condition or is reasonably expected to know

When convicted of this offense, the accused person is guilty of a Class C felony in North Carolina. Also, such a person loses rights over a child conceived due to the act.

Statutory Rape of a Child by an Adult: § 14-27.23 defines this offense as one that occurs where the accused person is up to 18 and engages in vaginal intercourse with a minor under the age of 13. Upon conviction for this offense, the accused person is guilty of a Class B1 felony and will face punishments as specified in Article 81B of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes. Also, such a person shall not receive an active punishment of fewer than 300 months and will have to enroll for lifetime monitoring.

The court may also sentence an accused person to life imprisonment, where the nature of the offense and harm inflicted exceeds the scope of what is normally seen in offenses of this category. Also, upon conviction, such an accused person loses all rights to a child born as a result of this offense.

1st Degree Statutory Rape: Under § 14-27.24, the offense of 1st-degree statutory rape occurs where the accused person engages in vaginal intercourse with a minor who is below the age of 13 and the accused is at least 12 years old and about four years older than the minor. In North Carolina, this offense is a Class B1 felony, and the accused, when convicted, has no rights over any child born due to the act.

The Statutory Rape of Person Who Is 15 Years Old or Younger: Under § 14-27.25, an accused person is said to commit this offense where the person engages in the act of vaginal intercourse with a minor who is 15 or younger. The law provides that the accused must be at least 12 years old and at least six-year older than the victim unless the accused and the victim are married. The commission of this offense is recognized as a Class B1 felony in North Carolina.

Where the accused person is at least 12 years old, more than four but less than six years older than the victim, and not married to the victim who is 15 years old or younger, it is a Class C felony.

1st Degree Forcible Sexual Offense: § 14-27.26 covers the offense of 1st-degree forcible sexual offense. It describes the offense as one that occurs where an accused person engages in any sexual act with a victim by force, against the will of the victim, and any of the following occurs:

The accused person uses, displays, or threatens to use a deadly weapon to commit the offense.
The accused person in committing the offense inflicts serious personal injury on the victim or another person.
One or more persons aid and abet the accused person in committing the offense.

Any person found guilty of this offense is guilty of a Class B1 felony.

2nd Degree Forcible Sexual Offense: Under § 14-27.27, an accused person commits the offense of 2nd-degree forcible sexual offense in the following circumstances:

Where the accused person does the act using force and against the will of the victim
Where the victim has mental incapacitation, mental disability, or is physically helpless, and the accused person is aware of this condition.

When a court in North Carolina finds a person guilty of this offense, the accused person faces a conviction for a Class C felony.

Statutory Sexual Offense With A Child By an Adult: § 14-27.28 provides for this offense in North Carolina and defines it as where an adult who is 18 and above engages in any sexual act with a victim who is a child below the age of 13. If a North Carolina court finds an accused person guilty of this offense, the person commits a Class B1 felony and will face a punishment of not less than 300 months in prison and lifetime monitoring.

Also, in some cases, the court may sentence the accused person to life imprisonment without the option of parole, where the nature of the offense and harm inflicted by the accused person is more brutal or severe than normal.

1st Degree Statutory Sexual Offense: § 14-27.29 covers this offense in the statutes and defines 1st-degree statutory sexual offense as one that occurs where an accused person being up to 12 years old and at least four years older than the victim, engages in a sexual act with a minor who is under the age of 13.

In North Carolina, a 1st-degree statutory sexual offense is a Class B1 felony.

Statutory Sexual Offense With A Person Who Is Fifteen Years of Age or Younger: § 14-27.30 covers this offense and defines it as a situation where the accused person is at least 12 and at least six years older than the victim, carries out a sexual act with a victim who is fifteen years old. The only exception to this offense is where the accused person and the victim are married. A person convicted under this section is guilty of a Class B1 felony, and it becomes a Class C felony, where the accused person is at least 12 years old, more than four, but less than six years older than the victim unless both are married to each other.

Sexual Activity by A Substitute Parent or Custodian: § 14-27.31 provides for this offense and defines it as one that occurs where:

An accused person assumes the position of a parent in the home of a victim who is a minor and carries out an act of vaginal intercourse or any other sexual act with the victim.
An accused person, having custody of a victim of any age, and is an agent or employee of an institution or person, engages in vaginal intercourse or any other sexual act with the victim.

In both instances, consent is not a defense, and the State of North Carolina regards any sexual activity by a substitute parent or custodian as a Class E felony.

Sexual Activity With A Student: Under § 14-27.32, this offense occurs in any of the following circumstances:

Where the accused person is a teacher, school administrator, school safety officer, coach, or any other school personnel and is at least four years older than the victim and engages in vaginal intercourse or any other sexual act with a victim that is a student. Such an offense is a Class G felony.
Where the accused person is school personnel and not a teacher, administrator, school safety officer, or coach and is less than four years older than the victim and carries out an act of vaginal intercourse or any other sexual act with a victim who is a student. In this circumstance, the offense is a Class I felony.

Consent is not a defense in either instance.

Sexual Battery: § 14-27.33 defines this offense as where a person engages in acts of sexual contact with another person for purposes of sexual abuse, gratification, or sexual arousal. For an act to qualify as sexual battery, any of the following circumstances must be in effect:

The act must be against the will of the victim, and the accused person must use force in carrying out the action.
The victim may have a mental disability, incapacitation, or be physically helplessness and the accused person must be aware of it.

An accused person who commits this offense is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor.

What Types of Sex Offenders Exist in North Carolina?

North Carolina is one of the states that have not implemented the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Yet, some parts of this federal law affect sex offenders in the state. Under the SORNA, there are three classifications or tiers of offenses, and they are:

Tier 1 Crimes: In North Carolina, some offenses that may fall under this category are sexual battery, peeping, possession of child pornography, etc. Persons who commit these offenses must register for at least 15 years but may have the duration reduced if such persons have a clean record.

Tier 2 Crimes: Tier 2 offenses are those that have punishment spanning over a year in prison, and some examples of such offenses in North Carolina are statutory rape, sexual activity with a student, sexual activity by a substitute parent, etc. Persons convicted of these offenses must register for at least 25 years.

Tier 3 Crimes: The SORNA regards offenses in this category as aggravated sexual offenses and attracts terms of imprisonment, which last for more than one year. Persons convicted under this category must register for life.

How to Find a Sex Offender Near Me in North Carolina

§ 14-208.5 of Article 27A of the North Carolina Statutes, otherwise called the Sex Offender and Public Protection Registration Programs, allows for the registration and publication of sex offender information in the state. Also, under § 14-208.10, these sex offender records are available for public inspection. Thus, individuals may find sex offender information in North Carolina through any of the following options:

The North Carolina Sex Offender Registry
The National Sex Offender Public Website
Local sheriff offices

The North Carolina Sex Offender Registry keeps all relevant information on sex offenders that live in the state. The aim of this website is to protect members of the public by providing this information via a searchable platform.

Individuals may also search with the National Sex Offender Public Website run and managed by the Department of Justice. It allows interested persons to find the latest information on sex offenders in different jurisdictions in the United States.

Alternatively, individuals may contact the local sheriff offices in North Carolina to obtain sex offender information. North Carolina law mandates sex offenders in the state to register with the sheriff in the county where the offender lives. The sheriffs, in turn, maintain these records and make the records available to the public on demand.

What Happens When You Register as a Sex Offender in North Carolina?

Under § 14-208.7 of the North Carolina Statutes, convicted sex offenders must register with the sheriff of any county where the offender resides. Also, if an offender relocates to North Carolina from any other place, such an offender must register within three days of establishing residence. For offenders already residing in the state, the limitation period is within three business days of release or immediately upon conviction, and the registration shall last for 30 years unless the offender petitions a court to reduce it.

Under § 14-208.16 and irrespective of the crimes committed, registered sex offenders in North Carolina must not live within 1000 feet of the property of a school or child care center, except such property is located within 1000 feet of where the offender already schools or works. Violating the provisions of this section is a Class G felony. Schools and daycare facilities in North Carolina must be subject to § 14-208.19; register with the North Carolina Sex Offender and Protection Registry to receive email alerts of when a registered sex offender moves within a one-mile radius of the school or registered daycare.

§ 14-208.17 further provides that a registered sex offender must not work in an institution that requires the sex offender to provide care, supervision, or instruction for a minor or minors. Such an offender must also not babysit any child at the offender’s residence, and a violation of this section is a Class F felony. Where the victim of rape or any similar offense was below 18 at the time of the offense, the convicted sex offender may not enter the following locations:

Any venue intended for the use, care, and supervision of minors, like playgrounds, nurseries, child care centers, schools, and children museums
Within 300 feet or areas that are designated for children, like malls, shopping centers, and any other property that is opened up for public access
Any venue or place where minors frequently congregate, like arcades, amusement parks, recreation parks, swimming pools, libraries, etc., when minors are present
A fairground when an event is held. It includes the state fairground during the state fair.

Per § 14-208.19A, the Department of Motor Vehicles must not issue to a registered sex offender a commercial driver’s license or learner’s permit with the designation P (passenger) or S (school bus) on it. The minimum period for which a convicted sex offender must register in North Carolina is 30 years, which may be extended to a period of lifetime registration, depending on the offense. Where the conviction is for an aggravated offense, repeat offense, or if the court designates the sex offender to be a sexually violent predator, such an offender must:

Undergo lifetime registration
Carry out verification of residence every 90 days

Also, such persons are not eligible to petition the courts for a reduced registration period unless the courts reverse or pardon the sentence. All other registered offenders apart from these must register for 30 years from the first date of county registration. After ten years, these individuals may petition any Superior Court to terminate the registration.

Under § 14-208.6C, to discontinue this registration requirement in its entirety, the sentence must be reversed, vacated, or set aside, or the registrant must have been granted an unconditional pardon of innocence for the offense requiring registration. Where the law requires a sex offender to register, and the offender fails to register, such an offender is guilty of a Class F felony. It also applies in the following circumstances:

Where the sex offender fails to notify the last registering sheriff of a change in address
Where the sex offender fails to return a verification notice
Where the sex offender forges or submits the required information or verification notices under pretenses

All sex offender registration information, once collated by the respective county sheriffs, is to be entered in the database of the Sex Offender Registry website to be made available to the public.

What is the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry?

The North Carolina sex offender registry contains up-to-date information on sex offenders, statistics of offenders, and persons classified as sexual predators. The registry provides a variety of information, including the offender's registration number, registration date, release date, conviction date, confinement sentence time, probation sentence time, offense qualifier description, aggravated offense description, date of offense, victims age, and the offense key.

According to the North Carolina Sex Offender Registration Program, the following people have to register at the nearest County Sheriff Office:

Residents who have a reportable sex conviction
Individuals with reportable sex convictions in another state who has just moved to North Carolina
Offenders who would be staying in the state for 15 or more days

Similarly, students who are non-resident with a reportable sex conviction and non-resident workers who have a reportable sex conviction are to register in the state of residence.

Interested members of the public may also obtain public record information from third party websites. These privately owned sites typically host data culled from public databases and repositories. However, the information available on third-party sites may vary since they are independent of government sources. To use a third-party site, record seekers may be required to provide all of some of the following information:

The full name on the record of choice
The last known or current address of the named individual
The address of the requestor

Who Runs the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry?

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is responsible for maintaining the state’s sex offenders registry. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation collates information provided on sex offenders from the 100 county sheriffs in North Carolina. As of 2021, there are 25,310 registered sex offenders in the North Carolina sex offender registry statistic portal.

Who Can View the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry?

The sex offenders registry is available to public members for viewing as these are considered public records in North Carolina. However, users should note that misuse of the information provided in the registry is an offense that is subject to criminal prosecution. The registry does not contain information on persons whose sexual behavior has not come to the attention of the authorities.

Note: Juvenile offenders are not included in the sex offender registry.

What are the Sex Offender Laws in North Carolina?

North Carolina is governed by several sex laws and regulations governing the registration and behavior of sex offenders in the state of North Carolina. These laws and regulations include:

Megan’s Law
Sex Offender Residency Restrictions
Employment and Volunteer Restrictions for Registered Sex Offenders
Sex Offender Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Restrictions
Sex Offender Emergency Medical Services Restrictions
Sex Offender Funeral License Restriction
Prohibition from Commercial Social Networking Websites for Registered Sex Offenders
Prohibition on Name Changes by Sex Offenders
Restriction from Protected Locations

What is Megan’s Law?

This law ensures that there is a community-wide notification when a sex offender is released into the public. The law was signed in 1996 and ensures that the community is safe by providing an alerting system to notify community members on the release of sex offenders into the state of North Carolina.

Sex Offender Residency Restrictions

Sex offenders are not allowed to reside within 1,000 feet of a school or a child care center. In addition, a sex offender must not live within the same building being used to care for a child. An exception to this rule exists in a situation where a child care center is within 100 feet of the property of a higher institution where an offender schools or a property where a sex offender works.

Employment and Volunteer Restrictions for Registered Sex Offenders

Sex offenders are not permitted to give instructions or care for minors. They are also not allowed to conduct babysitting services.

Sex Offender Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Restrictions

Sex offenders are forbidden from possessing a commercial driver’s license with a P (passenger) designation or S (school bus) endorsement.

Sex Offender Emergency Medical Services Restrictions

A sex offender would be unable to renew emergency medical services credentials.

Sex Offender Funeral License Restriction

A sex offender convicted of an offense committed against a minor does not qualify for any license from the North Carolina Board of Funeral Services.

Prohibition from Commercial Social Networking Websites for Registered Sex Offenders

Sex offenders are obligated to disclose sex offender registration status to members of social media platforms shared with the sex offender.

Prohibition on Name Changes by Sex Offenders

Sex offenders are barred from changing names within or outside the State of North Carolina.

Restriction From Protected Locations

Sex offenders are prohibited from the following environment:

Environments designated for the care and supervision of minors
Within 300 feet of areas designated for children in public places like malls, shopping centers, or any similar properties open to the public
Places where there is a frequent gathering of minors, including libraries, arcades, swimming pools, recreation parks, and other similar locations
The area where the state fairground is being held at the time.

Can a Sex Offender Live With Their Family in North Carolina?

Sex offenders in North Carolina are permitted to live with members of their families. However, if the sex offender had been convicted for sex crimes against a minor, then the sex offender cannot stay in a house where the relative(s) is/are minors.

How Long Do Sex Offenders Have to Register in North Carolina?

Sex offenders in North Carolina have to register for at least 30 years and may be required to register for life in some cases. The only way to reduce the registration time is by successfully petitioning the court, which can only be done when an offender has stayed on the register for 10 years. Sex offenders convicted of an aggravated offense, repeat offenders, or offenders determined to be sexually violent predators would be on the registry for life and must verify their addresses every 90 days.

Do Sex Offenders Have to Notify Neighbors in North Carolina?

Sex Offenders who reside in North Carolina are not required to notify neighbors of their sex offender status or crimes. However, North Carolina residents can subscribe to the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation offenders email notification service. The service ensures that subscribers receive alerts when a sex offender moves to a North Carolina address within one, three, or five miles of a subscriber’s home.

However, sex offenders have to register with the nearest County Sheriff. The schedule for sex offenders to register is:

Current North Carolina offenders who did not receive an active sentence must register at the nearest Sheriff’s Office immediately upon conviction;
Current North Carolina residents who have received an active sentence must register within three days from release from a penal institution.
Sex offenders who move to North Carolina have to register within three days of setting up residency or within 15 days of being in North Carolina, whichever case comes first.
Non-resident students are required to register upon enrollment in any school in North Carolina.
Non-resident workers must register when employed on a full-time or part-time basis, with or without compensation in North Carolina for 14 days or an aggregate period of more than 30 calendar days.

Do Sex Offenders Have to Put Up a Sign in Their Yard in North Carolina?

Sex offenders in North Carolina are not required to put up signs. However, the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (Division) maintains a satellite-based monitoring system for certain registered sex offenders. Aggravated offenders, recidivists, sexually violent predators, and offenders convicted of statutory rape of a child by an adult (N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-27.23). Sex offenders that fall in both of the criteria listed below are subject to satellite-based monitoring:

Persons who committed an offense involving the physical, mental, or sexual abuse of a minor; and
Offenders who are classified as needing the highest level of supervision and monitoring according to the Divisions assessment.

Individuals may direct further inquiries to the Division at (919) 716-3100. Note that sex offenders are required to register with the County Sheriff’s Office nearest to them.

How Close Can a Sex Offender Live to a School in North Carolina?

Sex offenders are not allowed to own properties or reside within 1,000 feet of a school or child care center. This restriction does not apply to sex offender registrants who established residency before the law came into effect in 2006.

How to Look Up Sex Offenders in North Carolina

Interested persons can search the North Carolina Sex Offender and Public protection registry across the following categories:

Offender Search: Members of the public can search for an offender by directly inputting the last name, first name, aliases, age, Zip code, city, county, and offender’s status.
Offender Sex Registration Number: Users can search for a sex offender by inputting the Sex Registration number assigned to the sex offender.
Address Search: Users can search for offenders in a particular environment or address by inputting the street, city, and Zipcode of a specific location.
Latitude/Longitude Search: Users may use this search category to look for sex offenders within an estimated geographical location by inputting the latitude and longitude.

Individuals should know that the registry is maintained for informational purposes and using the information retrieved from the website to commit crimes including intimidation, stalking, threats or harassment, and other crimes may result in criminal prosecution.

Persons seeking more information can contact any of the County Sheriffs or contact the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation at the following address:

Capital District - Raleigh
1705 Tryon Park Drive
Raleigh, NC 27610
Phone: (919) 779-8188
The Capital District serves Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Orange, Person, Warren, Vance, and Wake counties.

Coastal District - Jacksonville
Special Agent in Charge Kevin Tabron
470 Dolphin Drive
Jacksonville, NC 28546
Phone: (910) 346-2121
The Coastal District serves Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Duplin, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, and Pender counties.

Northeastern District - Greenville
Special Agent in Charge Masha Rogers
1013 W. H. Smith Boulevard
Greenville, NC 27834
Phone: (252) 756-4755
The Northern District Office serves Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Wayne, Wilson, and Washington counties.

Northern Piedmont District - Greensboro
Special Agent in Charge Scott Williams
501 Industrial Ave.
Greensboro, NC 27406
Phone: (336) 303-4840
The Northern District serves Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, and Stokes counties.

Northwestern District - Hickory
Special Agent in Charge Chris Laws
279 Performance Drive
Hickory, NC 28602
Phone: (828) 330-3230
This office serves Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Davie, Iredell, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yadkin counties.

Southeastern District - Fayetteville
Special Agent in Charge Errol D. Jarman
414 Chicago Drive
Fayetteville, NC 28306
Phone: (910) 778-5724
This office serves Bladen, Cumberland, Hoke, Lee, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland counties

Southern Piedmont District - Harrisburg
Special Agent in Charge Kevin Canty
5994 Caldwell Park Drive
Harrisburg, NC 28075
Phone: (980) 781-3000
Serves Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union counties

Western District - Asheville
Special Agent in Charge Chuck Vines
900 Alliance Court
Asheville, NC 28806
Phone: (828) 654-8901
Serves Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey counties

Can You Expunge a Sex Offender Charge in North Carolina?

The Second Chance Act - Senate Bill 562 is a criminal reform bill passed in June 2020 that offers persons with criminal records or charges an opportunity to have the records stuck out from public records or registry. Under this Act, persons may be eligible for an expungement if:

Sex-related charges do not result in a guilty verdict
The offenses are nonviolent misdemeanors and one incident of nonviolent convictions

It is important to note that sex offenses with victims who are minors are not eligible for expungement. For more inquiries on expungement eligibility, contact the nearest county sheriff.

Is Public Urination a Sex Offense in North Carolina?

Urinating in public is an offense punishable as a misdemeanor, and persons caught urinating in public are not registered as sex offenders. Misdemeanors may be punishable by up to 60 days of active, intermediate, or community punishments. Misdemeanors such as public urination are also punishable with a fine of up to $1,000. Urinating in public can also be categorized as indecent exposure.

How to Report a Sex Offender in North Carolina

Residents who perceive a threat of a sex offender to the public are encouraged to contact the county sheriff’s office, police department, or the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAAC) has a guideline for members of the public wishing to report suspicions on sex offenders and other criminal offenders thus:

Take note of the circumstances surrounding the suspect.
Take note of the suspect's characteristics and any other details that may be relevant to the authorities, including hair color, hair length, absence or presence of facial hair, facial hair color (if any), eye color, approximate age, approximate height, approximate weight, other body markings
Call 911 immediately.
Monitor the activities of suspected sex offenders with cameras, recording, note-taking, voice recordings, maps, or diagrams.
Take notice when a suspected sex offender makes attempts to gain information about buildings, environments, and people by electronic means or in person.
Take note of suspected offenders who seem to not belong in certain environments that may make them harmful to members of society
Look out for suspects making attempts to enter or who enter a restricted area or protected site.
Take note of suspects that actively impersonate authorized personnel (police, security, janitor)
Take note of document credentials in case documents used are false documents or misusing insignia to cover possible illicit sexual activities.
Take note of suspects in the community and work environments that are stealing and diverting things associated with a facility or infrastructure, such as badges, insignia, uniforms, identification, emergency vehicles, technology, or other documents.
Take note of suspects passing threats on members of the community and report to the relevant authorities.
Take note of suspects operating an aircraft that would be interpreted as suspicious or posing a threat to people or property.

The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association, via the Sex Offender Registration guidelines, lays down the following rules as regards reporting sex offenders:

According to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-208.11A, an individual must report a sex offender’s violation of registration requirements. It is illegal to intentionally aid an offender to avoid arrest by holding back information or failing to inform law enforcement of the offender’s non-compliance and whereabouts if known.
According to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-208.11(a1), a probation officer, parole officer, or any other law enforcement officer who knows about a sex offender's violation of compliance laws is required to arrest the offender immediately or seek an order for the arrest of the offender.
According to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-208., bodies that receive a complaint about somebody using its service to solicit a minor for an unlawful sexual act or a person involved in transmitting materials that contain a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activities shall report the person and the alleged offender's online identifier to the Cyber Tip Line at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Operators would then forward that report to an appropriate law enforcement official within the state.