The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is a public database containing the names, addresses, physical descriptions and criminal history details of convicted sex offenders that is readily accessible on the Internet. The purpose of the registry is to provide another layer of protection to society to identify and track those sexual delinquent individuals who are perceived to have a low recidivist rate. The length of time and the frequency that someone has to register depends on the type of offense that they were convicted of.
All Sex Offenders In Michigan Will Be Listed On One Of 3 Tiers On The Registry:
What is a Tier I Sex Offender in Michigan?
Tier 1 offenders include those convicted of possession of child pornography, aggravated indecent exposure if it is witnessed by someone under 18, misdemeanor sexual touching if the victim is under 18, and taking photos of an unclothed person if that person is under 18. All Tier 1 offenders must register with police once a year for 15 years.
What is a Tier II Sex Offender In Michigan?
Tier 2 Soliciting minors for sex, distributing child pornography, using the Internet to seek out children for sex, sexual touching if the victim is between 13 and 17 years of age, and soliciting a prostitute under the age of 18. These offenders must register twice a year with police for 25 years.
What is a Tier III Sex Offender In Michigan?
Tier 3 offenders include those convicted of rape, attempted rape, molesting a child under the age of 13, and kidnapping a minor, even if there is no sexual component to the crime. The offenders must report four times a year for life.
PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER
Under the law of Michigan Sex Offender Registry Act, willfully failing to register or to verify your information with law enforcement as required is a felony offense. The statutory penalties include:
First Offense — Up to 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000
Second Offense — Up to 7 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000
Third or Subsequent Offense — Up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000
A judge may sentence you to a penalty that is different than the ones reflected in the statute. Michigan Supreme Court decision allows judges to treat statutory penalties as a guideline rather than a mandate. Judges need only impose penalties that are reasonable for the offense and the circumstances.
If you fail to register, but your failure is not willful, the offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000.
It’s also a misdemeanor crime to willfully refuse to sign a registration or to willfully refuse to pay the sex offender registration fee. The statutory penalties for a conviction include:
Refusal to Sign — Up to 93 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000
Refusal to Pay the Fee — Up to 90 days in jail
Michigan SORA allows jurisdictions to reduce the registration period for a tier I sex offender by 5 years after the sex offender maintains a clean record for 10 years and to terminate registration for a sex offenders who is required to register under SORA based on juvenile delinquency adjudication after the sex offender maintains a clean record for 25 years.
