Registration as a Sex Offender

Sex offender registration makes the potential damage to your reputation from conviction of a sex crime more lasting and severe than other crimes. Federal law mandates that sex offenders register with the government, and sex offenders convicted on charges involving children must update their address with law enforcement each year. Even more frequent verification is required of offenders deemed to be sexually violent, or "predators." When state law falls below the federal standards, the state can lose vital funding from the federal government, resulting in most states mandating some kind of sex registration and keeping a sex offender databank. State registration includes address and other identity factors. State registration statutes are often more strict than federal law, requiring updated address verification each time the offender moves residence. Call Nicholas C. Rowley at (310) 651-1712 or contact us online for consultation if you have any questions or concerns about the applicability of these laws to your case.

Who can access the Sex Offender Registry?

Public access to sex offender registries was not universal throughout the states. However, the passage of Megan's law (a federal statute) has changed this, resulting on most states passing public notification rules and rendering your registration information accessible to public searches on the Internet or at the offices of most state law enforcement agencies. In some places, the notification process is "active," meaning that people who live and work in certain areas relative to the sex offender's home are actually notified of that fact when the offender comes into the community. In some instances, the offender can be searched by name; in others, the state simply provides a list of all offenders in a specific geographic area. Classification as an "offender" or a "sexual predator" also can affect the offender's status and the severity of registration/publication requirements. Different states also have different rules regarding the length of time of required registration.

Remember....

When you are forced to register as a sex offender, there is a significant likelihood that those who live around you will be able to learn all about who you are, where you live and the sex crimes of which you have been convicted. The personal stigma and prejudice against so-called "sex offenders" and "who they are" is generally very harsh, regardless of the mitigating circumstances of the offense involved. Most citizens want sex offender registries in place to protect their children and families. The results can have extreme consequences to you if you are convicted of a sex crime, especially if the crime was relatively "victimless" such as sodomy, statutory rape involving teenagers, pornography, etc., and fall under the registration requirement. For this reason, it is critical that you contact a powerful criminal defense firm like Nicholas C. Rowley to defend you against sex charges and/or to prevent registration from becoming a part of your sentence if you decide to take a plea.