When someone is convicted of a sex crime, there is a high chance that part of their sentencing will require sex offender registration. People placed on a sex offender registry will need to reregister at regular intervals, or face further criminal penalties. The public can access a sex offender registry to view people on the list, which means employers, lenders, landlords, and other parties in positions of power will often do all they can to avoid or reject registrants.
The Sex Offender Tiers
What Is A Tier 1 Sex Offender
Tier 1 requires registration as a sex offender for 10 years, or 5 years for minors. Beginning July 1 of 2021, if you have served the minimum 10 year requirement, you will be able to petition for removal from sex offender registry.
Tier 1 encompasses all misdemeanor sex offenses and some non-violent felony sex offenses. Tier 1 crimes include but are not limited to: indecent exposure, misdemeanor child pornography, misdemeanor oral copulation, and misdemeanor sexual battery.
What Is A Tier 2 Sex Offender
Tier 2 requires registration as a sex offender for 20 years, or 10 years for minors. Beginning July 1 of 2021, if you have served the minimum 20 year requirement, you will be able to petition for removal from sex offender registry.
Tier 2 encompasses mid-level felonies that are excluded from Tier 1 and Tier 3. Tier 2 crimes include but are not limited to incest, oral copulation, acts of penetration with a foreign object, and a second separate conviction for annoying a child for sexual purposes.
What Is A Tier 3 Sex Offender
Tier 3 requires registration as a sex offender for life. If you are convicted of a Tier 3 crime, you are not eligible to petition the court for removal from the sex offender registry.
Tier 3 encompasses allegedly more serious sex offenses. These include but are not limited to: felony possession of child pornography, pimping and pandering of a minor, and many cases of rape.
Megan's Law Website
Tier 1 offenders will not be posted to the Megan's Law website unless Tier 1 offenders pose a specific and demonstrable threat to a community. However, Tier 2 and Tier 3 offenders will be posted to the website.
Registrants may apply for exclusion from the Megan's Law website if he or she has completed their required probation, and if he or she has not engaged in incest, oral copulation, or forced penetration.
Any type of sex crime charge should be taken very seriously, even if you are innocent of the charge against you. Contact a criminal defense attorney the moment you know you are under investigation for or charged with a sex offense.
