Sex Offender Registration

Mandatory Sex Offender Registration for many Sex Crimes

Across the nation it is the law that those convicted of certain sexual offenses must register. In some cases this mandatory registration will be required for life and in others this requirement expires after a stated time period and successfully completing probation.

Wherever one moves or resides they must register their living address with designated law enforcement agencies. This registration information must be kept current and any time a change occurs then the agencies must be promptly notified and the records updated. Even if nothing changes most registration requires that the offenders routinely update or confirm their information at stated intervals, particularly in the case of designated sexual predators. While many offenses only require registration for specific time periods in the case of repeat offenders, sexual violence offenders or charges involving minors then these normally require lifelong registration.

This information is publicly available and open to anyone through local inquiry or websites such as "Megan's List". Being on a sexual offender's list creates a massive invasion of privacy, denies many social opportunities, limits one's choices in where to live and can severely restrict employment options. While in many cases this may be a necessary safeguard it is also true that there are many relatively light sexual offenses that can require registration and so present an unnecessarily burdensome punishment in light of the offense committed. A Tampa sex crimes defense attorney can help in answering questions about sex offender registration. At The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger we have great familiarity with this area of the law and stand ready to help with any of your concerns regarding your status under these laws or possible injustices.

Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification

It is not merely a fact of registering with local authorities but all fifty states have community notification laws as well. These allow for the public access to information on all of the sexual offenders in a community - who they are and where they live. The process of community notification came into being as the result of three laws passed in the past 20 years:

• Megan's Law in 1996
• Jacob Wetterling Crimes against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act in 1994
• Pam Lyncher Sexual Offender Tracking and Identification Act in 1994

When faced with such charges it is important that you contact a Tampa sex offender registration defense lawyer as soon as possible. We understand the implications and consequences of a conviction and are prepared to fight a vigorous battle in your defense.