What is a sex offense?
Sex offenses or sex crimes are sexual acts that are a committed with another person without that individual’s consent. Molestation, rape, sexual assault and producing or distributing child pornography are a few examples of sex offenses. People who have been charged and convicted of sex crimes may be sentenced to time in jail or pay fines for their offenses.
What is the sex offender registry?
Each state has an online database that keeps tabs of certain sex offenders. People who have been listed as level I, II or III sex offenders are often required to register. Their information will be retained in that registry for a given number of years.
What is a Tier III sex offender?
A level III sex offender is the most serious of the three classifications. People who have been found guilty of assault with the intention to rape, sale of a minor, kidnapping, incest or rape of any kind may be classified as a tier III sex offender. These crimes often bear serious punishments.
What information is included in the sex offender registry?
The name, age and current address for the offender is typically included, along with a photo. Offenders may be asked to supply details about the place where they attend school or their employer. The registry will also have a brief description of the crime that the person committed. The explanation will be written in language that makes it easy enough for most people to understand.
Who can see my data on the sex offender registry?
Information that’s included in a state sex offender registry database can be seen by all of the public with access to the internet. Maryland’s state sex offender registry can be found at https://dpscs.maryland.gov/onlineservs/socem/default.shtml. Most details can be viewed by anyone who wants to, even if they live in another state. However, there may be certain information that can only be seen and accessed by law enforcement personnel.
How long do I have to be on the registry?
A level III sex offender may be listed on the state sex offender registry anywhere from a few years to the rest of their natural lives. The judge presiding over the case will determine exactly how long that person must remain on the registry.
When should I register?
Offenders must register within at least three days after their community supervision period has ended. If this person was imprisoned for their crime, they are required to register after being released from jail. Tier III sex offenders must also report to local authorities every three months. This is done to ensure that all of their information is current.
Failure to register is considered a misdemeanor. People who fail to register as mandated could be fined and/or serve jail time. They may be faced with up to three years in jail and/or a fine of no more than $5,000. Penalties can increase for subsequent violations or if they are in conjunction with other crimes.
Will my information ever be removed from the registry?
Your details will be taken off the registry once the required time has expired. You could also have your information removed if your record has been expunged, pardoned or when the offender passes away. The specific circumstances will dictate whether your information will be removed from the registry during your lifetime.
Do non-Maryland level III sex offenders who work or go to school in the state need to register?
Level III sex offenders who attend school or work in Maryland but don’t live in the state are expected to register within 3 days from the start of employment or their school semester. The type of school or classes that the offender is taking does not influence this requirement. They should also familiarize themselves with the local laws and rules regarding registration and meeting with authorities on a regular basis.
What should I do if I move?
If you move, you should inform the respective local officials of your relocation as soon as reasonably possible. You should supply your change of address as well as any different email addresses or names used for social media profiles that you have. A warrant could be issued for your arrest if you don’t update your information in a sufficient amount of time after moving, so it’s probably best to provide the new details as soon as you can.
It’s imperative to take some time to read up on local laws and rules regarding sex offender registry if you relocate to another state or country. Each state and nation may have different requirements. If you must register in your new area, you should take care of that matter in a timely fashion.
Being convicted of a sex offense and having your information available on the state sex offender registry for anyone who wants to view can be very intimidating. It may take a while for a person to find employment or housing because of those very reasons. They may be judged unfairly by others, even if they were innocent of the particular crime or have since atoned for their misdeeds.
Contact us today to set up a free consultation and we will answer all your questions and navigate the issues to the best of our abilities. Our trained professionals will listen to your concerns and provide important advice and recommendations for possible next steps that you can take. We can even represent you in court if necessary.
Offenders usually face significant difficulties in renewing or continuing personal relationships with spouses, romantic partners, siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues. It may take years for credibility, respect and trust to be rebuilt. Sadly, some of those bonds may be forever broken.
Helping you get back on your feet again is our primary goal. We know that it isn’t going to be easy, but success rarely happens overnight. It will take concentrated effort to rebuild your reputation. Start setting goals for yourself. Think about what you want to achieve. This gives you something to look forward to that’s measurable. You’ll probably back to your happy self again before you know it.