566.149. Certain offenders not to be present within five hundred feet of school property, exception — permission required for parents or guardians who are offenders, procedure — penalty.
Certain sex offenders can’t go near schools—unless they’re a parent and get special permission
In Missouri, people convicted of certain sex crimes are not allowed to go near schools or school buses when kids are present, unless they’re the parent or guardian of a student and get official approval.
1. Anyone convicted of serious crimes like child exploitation, child pornography, incest, or child endangerment cannot:
- Enter school buildings
- Be within 500 feet of school grounds
- Be on school buses or vehicles used to transport students
This applies when children under 18 are present. The only exception is if the person is the student’s parent or legal guardian and has gotten approval.
2. Parents, guardians, or custodians with one of these convictions can’t be on school property unless they first get permission:
- For public schools, they must get approval from the superintendent or school board. The school principal must be notified if permission is granted.
- For private schools, permission must come from the principal.
Permission can cover one event or a series of events, but the person must get approval for any new event not already covered.
3. Violating this law is a class A misdemeanor—even if the person didn’t realize they were within 500 feet of a school or related activity.
Contact us online or call (314) 900-HELP to talk with a Missouri criminal defense lawyer.
