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Sex Offender Registration in Texas
Any person with reportable sex crime conviction or adjudication of delinquent conduct must register as a sex offender in Texas if he or she lives, works or attends school in the state.
October 13, 2011 /Law and Legal PR News/ -- Any person with reportable sex crime conviction or adjudication of delinquent conduct must register as a sex offender in Texas if he or she lives, works or attends school in the state. By law, convicted or adjudicated sex offenders must register with local law enforcement within seven days of arrival in the state. Local law enforcement then forwards the information to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), which then makes some registration information available to the public.
This article provides an overview of Texas' laws on sex offender registration specifically concerning residents and visitors to the state of Texas. Different rules apply in different states, and people convicted of sex crimes should consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney to more specifically discuss their unique registration requirements.
Registering as a Sex Offender in Texas
Several pieces of information are required for sex offender registration in Texas. Individuals required to register in Texas must provide:
- Full name and aliases
- Home address
- Birth date
- Sex and race
- Height and weight
- Eye and hair color
- Driver's license number
- Social Security number
- Recent photograph
- Complete set of fingerprints
- Shoe size
Additional information may be required for registration, including information about the offense, conviction and terms of release as well as employment or educational institution details. The public will have access to an individual's information via the DPS database; however, this information will not include his or her Social Security number, driver's license number, home telephone number or any details that would identify victims of sex offenses.
If a convicted individual is employed by or enrolled at a college, university, technical or trade school (public or private) in Texas, he or she also must notify the authority for campus security. This notification must take place within seven days of beginning work or enrolling. Notice also must be given to both the school and law enforcement officials within seven days if employment or educational studies are terminated.
Verifying Registration and Reporting Changes
After initial registration, people convicted of sex crimes residing in or visiting Texas are required to regularly report to local law enforcement and verify their registration information. Based on the type of sex offense, reporting may be required monthly, quarterly or annually. The law enforcement registration authority can inform individuals as to how often they must verify their registration.
Under Texas law, if an individual intends to move, he or she must appear in person at the local law enforcement agency at least seven days before the move takes place. Upon arriving at a new residence, he or she has seven days to register with local law enforcement. This enforcement authority then becomes the primary registration authority for the individual. If the move is out of state, the individual will have 10 days upon arrival to register with the law enforcement agency designated by DPS.
In Texas, visitation outside of the county or municipality where a sex offender is registered may require additional reporting. It is wise to consult with the primary registration authority or an attorney before spending more than 48 hours away from home.
Obtaining Information and Criminal Defense Representation
Texas law requires adult sex offenders residing in or visiting Texas to register as sex offenders for 15 years, 25 years or their entire lives. And, failure to comply with registration requirements is a felony offense.
Defense of Failure to Register Cases
These cases are far from unwinnable from a defense standpoint. Prosecuting these cases can prove difficult for the State because of the remarkable complexity of pleading and proving up the original conviction, and where it fits on the three tiered punishment scale. Also, the proof of timelines (when, for example, the defendant arrived in county, or when he departed) is often difficult for the prosecution.
Further, there are often technical defenses available. For example, if the defendant is from another state and got deferred adjudication in that jurisdiction, he may well not have to register in Texas. There are many other complex defenses based on the wording of the registration laws that often prove to be an unwelcome challenge to the prosecution.
If you would like more information about sex offender registration or need legal advice, contact an experienced Texas criminal defense attorney.
Article provided by Law Offices of Ray Taylor & Associates, P.C.
Visit us at www.raytaylorlaw.com
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