# Monitoring API
> The Monitoring API reference: create a person or location monitor, then get alerts by email or signed webhook when a matching record appears or is removed.
- **HTML:** https://offendersearch.app/docs/monitoring

The Monitoring API is a REST API for standing watches. It lives under `/v1/monitors`,
uses the **same API key** as the Sex Offender and Criminal Search APIs, and returns the
same JSON envelope — a caller who knows one API knows all three. You create a monitor,
and it delivers an alert whenever a matching record appears, changes, or is removed.

**Not a consumer report.** Monitoring alerts may not be used for any purpose covered by
the FCRA (employment, tenant screening, credit, insurance) — a restriction that matters
most here, because a monitor runs unattended. It is stated in the `legal` notice that
accompanies every monitor and every alert.

## Access

Monitoring is **available on every account automatically** — there is nothing to enable
and no entitlement to request. Any valid `X-API-Key` can create, list, retrieve and
cancel monitors and read their alert history immediately.

## What a monitor watches

A **person** monitor watches one name + date of birth; a **location** monitor watches a
radius around an address. Each monitor watches exactly one dataset (`sex-offender` or
`criminal`). Person monitoring is live on both datasets; sex-offender location monitoring
is live; criminal location monitoring is coming soon. Monitors are evaluated once per day
against the continuously updated dataset.

## Endpoints

- `POST /v1/monitors` — create a monitor. Returns the monitor object.
- `GET /v1/monitors` — list this account’s monitors.
- `GET /v1/monitors/{id}` — retrieve one monitor together with its recent alerts.
- `DELETE /v1/monitors/{id}` — cancel a monitor; billing stops at the period end (prorated).
- `GET /v1/monitors/{id}/alerts` — the full alert history for one monitor.

## Billing

Person monitoring is $3/mo; location monitoring is $10/mo. Each monitor is one product,
one predicate, one charge — criminal and sex-offender person-monitoring are two separate
monitors, so watching one person across both datasets is two monitors ($6/mo). Charges
appear on the same monthly invoice as the rest of the account’s usage.

HTML reference: https://offendersearch.app/docs/monitoring

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## Related

- Index: [Offendersearch API documentation](https://offendersearch.app/docs.md)