Sex offense accusations are not something to take lightly. In addition to other possible penalties, one consequence of some sex crime charges is the requirement that you register as a sex offender. This can have a significant impact on your life for years to come. For that reason, anyone facing sex crimes charges should be familiar with criminal defense options.
Register with local law enforcement
Under Texas law, convicted sex offenders that are required to register must register with the local law enforcement authority where they reside. There are timelines associated with registering and updating registration that can lead to additional penalties if they are not followed. The sex offender must provide a long list of information when registering including:
- The full name, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, eye color, hair color, shoe size, social security number, driver’s license number and home address or detailed description of the geographic area where the sex offender resides. They must also provide any aliases and any cell phone, home or work phone numbers.
- A recent color photograph of the sex offender and a complete set of their fingerprints.
- The type of offense the sex offender was convicted of, the date of conviction and the type of punishment received. They must also provide the age of the victim.
- The sex offender’s status in the criminal just system, such as discharged, paroled or another category including supervision.
- Any licenses, certificates, permits or authorizations issued to the sex offender by a licensing authority. This can include business, occupational and professional licenses the sex offender has been issued.
- Whether or not the sex offender will be employed or a student and the name and address of the institution.
- Any online identifier used by the sex offender.
- Detailed vehicle registration information.
Additional reporting requirements may also be placed on the sex offender. The requirement to register as a sex offender can be burdensome and create challenges for the accused individual related to housing, employment, education and their personal relationships. For that reason, if you have been accused of committing a sex crime, it is essential to be familiar with your criminal defense rights and to begin developing your criminal defense immediately.