Every state has its own laws regarding who must register as a sex offender. While the exact procedure to register is different in every state, working with the best sex crime defense attorney in your area will ensure that you comply with the said law.
Failing to register is a crime in every state and can lead to federal charges.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A SEX OFFENDER FAILS TO REGISTER
California was actually the first state to enact a sex offender law that required registration. The goal of this program that started back in 1947 is to provide timely information to the law enforcement community as well as the general public. This was further supported in 1996 with the monumental Megan’s Law.
Furthermore, there are currently over 120,000 registered sex offenders in California.
Being on the sex offender registry can negatively impact your ability to find housing, get hired for a job, or lead a normal life. Because the record is public, you may even have to deal with neighbors who don’t know your situation, passing judgment or worse.
How to Register
Registering generally involves contacting the local police department in every jurisdiction where the offender lives, works, goes to school, or frequents. Each of these law enforcement communities must also be notified of certain events such as name changes, moving to a new address, change of employment, modifying student status, etc.
There’s also an annual renewal of registration to ensure local communities have accurate information.
FAILURE TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER CALIFORNIA
Every state has its own approach to defining the “failure to register.”
Typically, the prosecution must prove that defendant met the following criteria:
- They had the duty to register as a sex offender
- They knew of their responsibility to register
- They failed to register or didn’t follow the appropriate requirements
In California, failing to register is a misdemeanor so long as the sex offense causing the need to register was also a misdemeanor.
A conviction could send the defendant to jail for up to a year, along with up to $1,000 in fines. Failing to register is a felony if the offense was a felony. This conviction could lead to up to three years in prison.
FAILURE TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER LAWYER DENVER
As you can imagine, the requirement to register as a sex offender is a considerable burden. Not only can this public information ruin your life, but it can also be a massive hassle with severe consequences.
With life already being hectic, it could be easy to make the simple mistake of forgetting to re-register after a significant life event.
The best way to avoid dealing with the sex offender registry is to hire the best sex crime defense attorney available. Your chances of having your case thrown out or reduced to a less severe crime increase exponentially the minute you contact the best sex offender lawyer you can find.
Call The Best Sex Offender Lawyer Today
If you find yourself in a situation where you’ve been arrested, charged, or accused of failing to register, call LibertyBell Law’s best sex crime defense lawyers right away.
Our qualified attorneys can not only help you understand how the law applies to your case but can work with you to create a defense that could potentially save you from conviction.
