Sex Offender Registry Issues

While everyone knows being on a sex offender registry is a bad thing, most people don’t have a clear idea of just how invasive it can be to be on Utah’s sex offender registry. Every time you travel, change residences or jobs, get a new car, or go to school, you have to tell authorities all about it. Then you have to do re-notify them twice a year regardless of any changes too. And let’s not get started about the social stigma once people find out you’re on it, which they can because Utah allows public access to the registered sex offender database. See How Long a Utah Sex Offender Has to Register

Avoid Making Things Worse

To make things worse, it’s a crime to incorrectly or incompletely fill out any of your required registrations. Which could mean another stint in prison, another year on probation, and another entry on your criminal record—not to mention probably losing your job and possibly your home in the bargain. Let’s also not forget that you’re going to be a number one suspect, should anything happen to a child who lives anywhere near you. It’s not without reason than many sex offenders have a hunted appearance.

So don’t make a bad situation worse. If you have any outstanding issues with your sex offender registration, let us help you.

Wasatch Defense Lawyers in Salt Lake City, Utah can Help Every Step of the Way with Sex Offender Registry Issues

What Being a Registered Sex Offender Means

As part of registering as a sex offender, you are required to provide:

• The make, model, color, year, plate number, and vehicle number of any car you own or regularly drive
• Your primary address and any possible secondary addresses (this must be updated within three business days if you move—regardless of when you move or why)
• A DNA sample and set of fingerprints, unless the state already has both
• A current photograph
• Your job’s address and phone number
• Your social security number
• A list of addresses and phone numbers for anywhere you volunteer or study
• All possible telephone numbers that might be used to reach you
• All Internet identifiers and addresses the offender uses and all websites used with those identifiers and addresses. Note that this is not an exhaustive list. More information can be found here:

What Happens if You Don’t Register as a Sex Offender?

Failing to register with the appropriate authorities (the Division of Adult Probation and Parole, sometimes listed as AP&P in Utah, or the local police station or sheriff’s office) is a crime. Depending on the crime that put you onto the registry, it may be a Class A misdemeanor or a third-degree felony. In either case, however, the punishment is a minimum of 90 days in jail plus one year on probation. No extenuating circumstance or court judgment can change that result.

For every year you fail to register, or incorrectly or incompletely register, another year is added to the time you must spend on the registry.

Conditions Individuals Convicted of a Sex Crime in Utah Must Abide By

If you have been convicted of a sex crime in the state of Utah, then you might be placed on Utah’s Sex Offenders Registry. There are two possible categories in which you might be placed. They include:

Sex Offender Group A Conditions: Offenses Involving a Minor Victim

Individuals placed on the Utah Sex Offender Registry for offenses involving a minor victim could be subjected to these conditions:

• They might be forced to participate in and complete sex offender therapy as ordered or recommended by a licensed facility or therapist
• They might be subjected to electronic monitoring or curfews as determined by their parole officer
• They cannot have any contact with the victim, the victim’s family, or children under the age of 18 years without prior approval
• They might not be allowed to go to places where children commonly gather including schools, arcades, parties, family functions, playgrounds, parks, and other locations without prior approval
• They cannot possess anything that might trigger sexual stimulation as related to children including books, videos, audio recordings, computer links, computer programs, drawings, or any other items deemed to fall in this category

In addition to these restrictive conditions, people placed in this category must also take random polygraph exams, have any and all employment opportunities approved by their parole officer, provide random blood draws, have their DNA taken, and have their place of residence approved by their parole officer.

Sex Offender Group B Conditions: Offenses Involving an Adult Victim

Individuals placed on the Utah Sex Offender Map for offenses involving an adult victim could be subjected to these conditions:

• They must complete sex offender therapy as ordered by the court and as determined by the treating facility or health professional
• They must abide by curfews and wear electronic monitoring if ordered
• They cannot have any direct contact with the victim or the victim’s family unless approved by their parole officer
• They must not have anything that will trigger a sexual stimulus in a “deviant” way including audio recordings, magazines, recordings, computer programs, computers, pictures, or anything else deemed to fall in this category by their parole officer

In addition to these restrictive conditions, people placed in this category will also be required to undergo random blood draws, have their DNA taken, take random polygraph exams, and have any and all employment opportunities approved by their parole officer.

Finally, people on this list also have to have their place of residence approved. If they need to move, then they will need to have this approved by their parole officer.

Being Placed on the Utah Sex Offender Registry Is Serious

Clearly, these conditions can be restrictive. Therefore, it is critical for anyone facing sex crime charges to rely on the experience of a sex crime lawyer. A sex offense defense lawyer Salt Lake City might be able to prevent someone from being placed on this list. In this manner, sex crime defense lawyers will advocate for the rights of their clients. Being placed on the sex offender list in the state of Utah can be incredibly restrictive and should be avoided, if possible.

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Why You Need Salt Lake’s Best Defense Lawyers

Our assertive, caring defense attorneys have over 100 years of experience handling these situations so you don’t have to. When it comes to dealing with the law, aggressive attention to detail can rarely steer you wrong. That’s what we’re good at, so you don’t have to be. Wasatch Defense Lawyers’ experienced, responsive attorneys are dedicated to protecting your rights and preserving your quality of life.

Call Wasatch Defense Attorneys at 801.980.9965 to Schedule a Free No-Obligation Case Review – We Can Help with Sex Offender Registry Issues