This 2009 study investigated the relationship between sex offenders’ failure to register (FTR) and recidivism, their similarity of risk factors with compliant registrants, as well as predictive factors of FTR. Based on a sample of 2,970 offenders from the South Carolina registry records, and from both the SC adult and juvenile criminal records, the findings do not support the premise that FTRs are more likely to reoffend than compliant sex offenders (2% differential). Public safety would be better served if funds were invested in determining other risk factors for sexual reoffenses.