Texas law imposes strict penalties on anyone convicted of sex crimes. These include long jail or prison sentences and large fines. They can also include registration as a sex offender. This isn’t just putting one’s name on a list; it comes with a series of restrictions and other consequences.
Reportable convictions
Under Texas law, anyone with a “reportable conviction or adjudication” must register as a sex offender as a condition of parole or release. The state has a long list of reportable offenses, including indecent exposure, sexual assault, trafficking, prostitution and many more. Anyone who has been found guilty of these offenses in Texas must register as a sex offender with their local police department. Similarly, anyone who has been required to register as a sex offender in another state must contact their local police department to place their name on the Texas sex offender registry upon moving to Texas. Once registered, the person must keep their contact information up-to-date.
The sex offender registry is publicly available. This means, generally, anyone can look up a person to see if they appear on the registry. This can greatly limit the person’s ability to find housing and employment.
Levels of offenders
The registry uses three tiers of offenders. Level 1 indicates that the authorities believe the person poses a low risk of future offenses. Level 2 indicates a moderate risk, and level 3 indicates a high risk.
Each level carries its own restrictions and requirements, and each person may face additional restrictions based on the specifics of their case. But — and this is crucial — anyone who violates the terms of their registration can be found guilty of a felony offense.
Defense
One of the cornerstones of our criminal justice system is the belief that all those who are accused of a crime deserve a defense. This includes anyone accused of sex offenses. The penalties that come with a conviction on sex crime charges are extremely serious, and anyone accused of these offenses needs a strong defense strategy.