Address Verification Letters: what they mean for registrants and how families should respond (three‑week deadline)

These letters typically arrive because Florida requires routine checks on a registrant's listed address. For registrants not under the care, custody, control, or supervision of the Department of Corrections (DOC), county and local law enforcement must verify addresses at least once per calendar year for sexual offenders, and at least four times per calendar year for sexual predators. A letter showing up doesn't mean something went wrong - it's often just part of a scheduled verification cycle.

FDLE sometimes gets involved because they serve as a central point of contact for registration-related determinations and questions. If you need to reach them: 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308; 1-888-357-7332; sexpred@fdle.state.fl.us. That said, FDLE doesn't provide legal advice about registration requirements. They'll direct you to your local sheriff's office for specific questions - so expect to be routed locally for answers.

• ✓ Watch the mail closely so the letter doesn’t sit unopened
• ✓ Open and read the correspondence right away
• ✓ Find and write down the correspondence date (the 3‑week clock runs from that date)
• ✓ Respond well before the three‑week deadline
• ✓ Keep proof of what you sent and when (copies, confirmation, notes)

Completing an address verification isn't the same as reregistration. Even after the registrant responds and FDLE or a local agency processes the verification, that does NOT replace required in-person biannual or quarterly reregistration. Think of the verification letter as an additional requirement - not a substitute for the regular in-person schedule.

Registrants not under DOC or Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) supervision may be able to use FDLE's CCS online system to report certain information. But here's the rule families often get tripped up on: using CCS doesn't change biannual or quarterly in-person reregistration requirements. Those still apply.

1. Check the letter date and what was sent - Find the correspondence date and confirm whether a response already went out (look for copies, receipts, or notes).
2. Call the local registration office for next steps - In Putnam County, registrations are handled at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, 130 Orie Griffin Boulevard, Palatka, FL 32177. They take appointments Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9:00am–4:00pm. Phone: 386-329-0821.
3. Use FDLE as a central contact when appropriate - If you need FDLE’s central contact, use 1-888-357-7332 or sexpred@fdle.state.fl.us (2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308). If your question is about what someone is required to do, expect to be directed to the local sheriff’s office.
4. Document every contact - Write down who you spoke with, the date/time, and what they told you, and keep copies of anything you submit.