Sex crimes are punished harshly in Texas and the consequences you face can extend beyond prison time and fines. In most cases, someone convicted of a sex crime must register as a sex offender for a prescribed period of time and, in some cases, that’s for life.
When you register as a sex offender in Grapevine, personal information about you and your crime will remain available to law enforcement and the public for as long as you are required to register. It’s important to speak with your defense attorney to find out how sex offender registration will affect your personal and professional future and if there is a way to lessen the impact.
What Convictions Require Sex Offender Registration?
Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure governs various aspects of how the sex offender registry works in Grapevine. One of the most important things this section addresses is when sex offender registrations expire after completion of a prison sentence.
Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Section 62.101(a), anyone convicted of a violent sexual offense in Grapevine must register as a sex offender for the rest of their life. This statute also mandates permanent registration for anyone convicted of sexual indecency with a child by contact, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and most other sex crimes involving minors.
Violations of federal sex crime laws and convictions for setxcriminalprocedure.com/art-62-101x trafficking warrant permanent registration as well. However, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Section 62.101(b) sets a ten-year expiration date for sex offender registrations related to less severe offenses, including:
- Soliciting a prostitute who is under 18
- Indecent exposure, if the defendant has previously been convicted of that same offense
- Soliciting sexual contact with a minor through the Internet
- Indecency with a child
In certain circumstances, it may be possible to have sex offender registration rescinded prior to its expiration date. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Section 62.403 allows for people convicted of sex offenses requiring registration to file a motion for an “individual risk assessment” to determine whether they are likely to commit any more crimes in the future. If successful, this motion could result in the early termination of sex offender registration requirements.
Sex Offender Registration Process in Grapevine
After being convicted of a sex offense that requires sex offender registration, individuals must provide a great deal of information to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as part of the registration process. As per Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Section 62.051, sex offender registrants are required to disclose:
- Personal identifying information including their full name, date of birth, height, weight, and shoe size
- Their driver’s license number and Social Security number
- Their home address
- A recent photo of themselves
- Information about their arrest and conviction
- Employment information, including where and when they work
- Online usernames and other identifiers
- Vehicle registration information
Anyone obligated to register as a sex offender must contact law enforcement and verify the information in their registration form no more than seven days after their release from law enforcement custody. If someone who is registered as a sex offender moves to or from Grapevine, they must notify local law enforcement in the area where they will reside no more than seven days after they arrive.
Contest Sex Offender Registration in Grapevine with Help from an Attorney
As you can see, a felony sex crime conviction can have serious consequences long after being released from prison. Many sex offenses require lifelong registration as a sex offender in Grapevine, and lesser offenses may require registration for a decade.
If you want to mitigate your chances of sex offender registration, it’s important to contact the skilled criminal defense attorneys at Varghese Summersett to find out your options. Call today to set up your free initial consultation.
