Every individual, both adult and juvenile, who is convicted of a sex crime, are required by law to register as a sex offender. This is true for both sex offenders who were convicted in the state of Texas, as well as those who were convicted in other states of a “reportable conviction or adjudication”, and then relocated to Texas.
How to Register as a Sex Offender
You must register your personal information with law enforcement authorities in any municipality where you reside, work, or attend school. The law requires you to do this within 7 days of arriving in any Texas city or municipality.
As per the Texas Department of Public Safety website, the information you are required to provide includes:
- the person’s full name, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, eye color, hair color, social security number, driver’s license number, shoe size, home address or a detailed description of each geographical location at which the person resides or intends to reside, each alias, and any home, work or cellular phone number of the person;
- a recent color photograph or, if possible, an electronic digital image of the person and a complete set of the person’s fingerprints;
- the type of offense the person was convicted of, the age of the victim, the date of conviction, and the punishment received;
- an indication as to whether the person is discharged, paroled, or released on juvenile probation, community supervision, or mandatory supervision;
- an indication of each business, occupational, or professional license, certificate, permit, or other authorization issued by a licensing authority that is held or sought by the person;
- an indication as to whether the person is or will be employed, carrying on a vocation, or a student at a particular public or private institution of higher education in this state or another state, and the name and address of that institution;
- the identification of any “online identifier” established or used by the person; and
- any other information required by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Information you provide during sex offender registration then goes into a publicly searchable database, which means anyone can access your status and personal information. This data must then be updated periodically for as long as you are required to be registered as a sex offender, as well as any time you relocate to another location within Texas.
The stigma that comes with having to register as a sex offender can destroy your life, career, relationships, and reputation. Let The Gagliardi Law Firm, PLLC fight to protect your rights and your good name! Call us today at 713-224-6277.
How Long Must I Be Registered as a Sex Offender?
The length of time you must continue to register or keep your information updated depends on which sex crime(s) you were convicted of. Some require you to register for 10 years, while others require you to maintain sex offender registration for the rest of your life.
What Happens if I Don’t Register?
Penalties for failure to comply with sex offender registration are severe. This is a felony offense in the state of Texas.
Legal Counsel for Sex Offender Registration
If you were convicted of a sex-related crime and are required to register as a sex offender, it’s important that you contact a qualified criminal defense attorney immediately if you’re facing criminal charges or have a warrant for your arrest out, based on an alleged violation.
Contact Attorney Joe Gagliardi at 713-224-6277 if you need our help. Our legal team will work to minimize the damage of sex offender related charges, and leverage our vast experience to defend your rights.